
Qass- 



Book 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



H 



AND BOOK TO THE CITY OF 
LITTLE ROCK, STATE OF 
ARKANSAS. ..^POPULARLY 
STYLED "THE CITY OF 
ROSES."-^EIGHTEEN HUN- 
DRED AND NINETY-SEVEN. 



BEING A FAITHFUL 
ACCOUNT OF ARK- 
ANSAS' -^CAPITAL 
CITY3i=- FROM THE 
STANDPOINT OF A 
MANUFACTURING 
CENTER. .^^/g/i^ 
_^REPORTED AND 
COPYRIGHTED BY 
Col. M. L,. DeMalher, 
STAFF MEMBER OF 
_^THE ARKANSAS 
GAZETTE, LITTLE 
ROCK, ARK.Difc^ 




From The Arkansas Gazette, 
January IS, 1897. 



i:{h 



PUBLISHED UNDER THE 
AUSPICES OF THE2^ 
LITTLE ROCK BOARD 
OF TRADE. D^ 



WRITE TO -^LITTLE 
ROCK BOARD OF TRADE 
FOR -^SUCH INFORMA- 
TION AS DOES NOTD^ 
APPEAR IN THIS HAND 
BOOK.a^ 



_^THE LITTLE ROCK 
BOARD OF TRADEi^ OF- 
FERS SUBSTANTIAL^^ 
INDUCEMENTS TO MAN- 
UFACTURERS -^TO LO- 
CATE IN THE CITY.3^ 



A 



PRESS OP 

GAZETTE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 

LITTLE KOCK, ARK. 



INTRODycTlON. 




,:?j^AVING IN MIND 
authenticated accounts 
of Arkansas and her 
chief city, nothing is 
more remarkable to 
strang-ers, who study either of 
the two, than the lack of manu- 
factures and of railway facilities, 
called for by favoring conditions 
of the State. It is not a question 
with them, whether on the one 
hand watercourses and present 
railroad connections, or whether 
on the other hand, extraneous 
causes enter into the case, but 
what have the people of Arkan- 
sas and of Little Rock engaged 

I. . . 

in, that so great opportunities 

should have escaped notice? 



ABSENCE OF RAILROADS AND 
FACTORIES. 

There are of course reasons for the ah- 
seuces of railroads aud manufactures, 
equal to the resouices and advantages of 
the state; however on first thought, it 
were impossible to name any one in par- 
ticular. But it is, furely, not a t'Utficient 
answer to the question, to say, that both 
Little Rock and the state, ate cut off from 
other avenues to wealth and gi'eatuess. 
than that of agriculture, even though 
eight-tenths or more of Arkansas' popula- 
tion engage in farming. Such an an- 
swer involves the hypothesis of the Ar- 
kantan being, so to speak, insular in his 
conception of means to ends, when in fact 
his hospitality to new ideas and his lib- 
erality and enterprise in trials of merit 
with his neighbors have for years won 
for his state the applause of all t>ister 
commonwealths of the Union. 

The reason is to be sought further. 
Arkansas aud Little Rock may not. have 
thought 'SO before times, but there are 
causes fui- the lack of manufactures and' 
railroads other than appear on the sur- 
face, ami for which au esplauatiou mu- 1 
be fOUght in the history of otier South- 
ern states. In the case of Georgia and 
her capital city, it is supplied in the fact 
of powerful Wall Street friends whose 
enthusiasm over resources of the state. 
by reas'on of its disinterestedness and 
sincerity, stimulated investments in 
mines, factories, railroads-, quarries and 
town property. In the case of Virginia 
it is found in the patronage of strong 
railway corporations, who hesitated at 
no expense, and who left no means un- 
tried to bring capital and population to 
the development of their territory. In the 
case of Alabama it is found directly in 
railway construction on the part of the 
state government, after which it was 
easy with railroad capitalists and man 
Lifactures not only to rea.-on for liber- 
ality and enterprise on the part 
of the legislature, but for the coufldeuce 
of it.< people in the resources and ad 
vantages of their state. And in the case 
of the Carolinas it is that of Providence 
helping those who help themselves, 
which, interpreted in their history, 
means that having continued to join 
modesit earnings of the farm, shop, store 
and professions, there has been effected 
results which represent an aggregate in- 



vestment of local capital to the amount of 
millions. 

Hence, however, the instances cited 
only complicate the maze, Arliausas and 
Little Kock must follow if they are to 
enter upon the development of railroads 
and manufactures, in one, or it might be 
in all of them is to be found the clew. 
Excepting friends who are strongly eu- 
ti enched in the confidence of Wall Street 
(but which with proi>er approach can be 
furnished in the person of thiee distin- 
guished railway magnates)— Arkansas 
possesses all means supplied by the 
states named. And what is better, in hev 
coal field-i, water power, navigable water 
cour.^es, forests, marbles, building stone, 
luanganese, antimony, beauxile, zinc, cop- 
per, lead, chalk, gypsum, green sand, 
marl, fiuit. grass, grain, and cotton lauds, 
she jupplies in her own territory more 
than the aggregate resources and advan- 
tages of the five states combined. 



AN INTERESTING EXAMPLE. 

.S-.-parating the subject uf manufactures 
from that of railroads, it is of course un- 
reasonable to expect, upon a considerable 
scale, indui'trial development, without 
leader's possescsed of business experience 
and judgment sufficient to attract gener- 
al confidence; or who, at least, add to 
the organization and promotion of manu- 
facturing enterprises, skilled knowledge, 
if not time and money, a.^^ evidence of 
good faith. 

Take the Georgia cotton mills for ex- 
ample. Though afterwards carried to 
heights rivalling states deemed to have 
a munopoly of cotton manufacture, its 
hiistory, no doubt, turns upon the Au- 
gusta factory, situated at Augusta, Ga. 
Aud to admit that much, is to bring into 
the Ught the forgotten fact, that the 
whole system, a.-' a profitable investment 
for that state, turned upon the skilled 
knowledge and industry of one man, 
(Gogin by name) who, immediately an- 
tedating the war of the states, wnw called 
to the management of the Augusta fac- 
tory. It was he who, not only carried 
the enterprise to a paying basis for the 
fir.-t time in its history, but whoso gen- 
ius became established in the cotton 
world, immediately after the war. in al- 
most fabulous earnings for which rhe 
mill is celebrated. 

There had been nothing to parallel il 
in the cotton mill industry of the state. 
and nothing, in the situation at the time, 
to invite great cotton plants. And. th(n'e- 
fnre. once it was shown, that nothing 
militated against their eneonragment and 
>uccess. excepting inexperience, lack uf 
capital, and lack of industrial leaders, 
not only was local capital from many 



sources combined for investment in cot- 
ton mills, but when approached by the 
right men, industrial capitalists of the 
East were not slow to invest in Georgia 
cotton mills. And in fact, when the mor- 
al of it all is' sought for. it will be found 
in a proviso wbicli obtained in both cases, 
that, those placed in charge should be of 
similar training and experience to that 
of the man who, in all truth, can be said 
to have created the great cotton mill in- 
dustry of the Souih, when from compara- 
tive nothingness he laised the fame of 
the Augusta Factory, as a money-maker, 
to that of the best in the world. 



RAILROADS ALIVE TO THE SITUA- 
TION. 

At' ill the case of manufactures upon 
tbeir own merit, so it is when the in- 
terest of railroads in the matter, is joined 
to the sub.iect of the iudu.?trial develop- 
ment in the state and at its capital city. 
One of the systems at last has in mind 
ie.sults which will follow when the oppor- 
tuaity of the two becomes understood, 
but at the same time, being always un- 
der the suspicion of working for selfish 
ends, it has been at sea, as to the best 
course to pursue. 

It has hesitated to proceed unnecessa- 
rily in a wrong direction, and in conse- 
quence, has held itself in abeyance, un- 
til delay, in the promotion of manufac- 
ture-', has become irksouie. if not detr'- 
mental to its interests, with this resull- 
that it is impatient enough to move in- 
dependently in the matter. And herein 
it is, that a serious disadvantage can fol- 
low such establishment of industries, con- 
ditioned to resources of the ftate. For 
if the railroads are, perforce, required to 
take the initiative. Little Rock will in 
effect, lose th. command of its own af- 
fairs and the ra I roads of course, farm out 
to strangers favors and advantages nec- 
essary to the success of manufacturing 
plants. 

Of the interest, old, new, and projected 
roads, feel in the outcome of local devel- 
opment directed to manufactures; it is 
not necessary to add that it does not, in 
toto, depend upon the pra^pect of an "in 
and out" haul of material found iu their 
teiritory. It also involves both the set- 
tlement of the country, and a better dis- 
tribution of money over their territory 
(not to mention, on account of aggregated 
manufactures under such conditions), a 
greater business out of Little Rock, than 
would he possible at any point in the 
Southwest, outside of St. Louis, Kansas 
City, and New Orleans. 



8 

FROM THE STANDPOINT OF LITTLE 
ROCK. 

Predisposed as the facts of llie case are. 
to the direct que.-tiou of Little Rock's 
future history, there is but one answer: 
i'liat of a manufacturiug center, though 
ai the same time it mutt always remain 
lUe largest and wealthiest commercial, 
social, educational, and political center 
of the t<tate. 

It is a result which is to follow, how- 
ever, an hcnest mittalie upon the part 
of its leaders, for a tjme, kept uut of sight 
iLhsources and opportunities which, lu 
the case of other cities of its size and 
populaUon, would have ultimated in one 
111 the largest mauufactuiiug cenieis 
of the Southern States. And in the sense 
chat it is an unavoidable consequence, if 
liusinese considerations are to govern its 
fortunes, Littie Rock need not be impa- 
tient of its realization, if sponsors ap- 
pear for it in centers of industrial capi- 
tal, provided similar etforts are made to 
overcome inexperience in manufacture, 
as took place when the people of Augus- 
ta, Ua., placed their great factory under 
the diiection of the famous mil. man 
from the .tate of Maine. 

The conditions, not to say variety and 
extent ol native material, are so much 
in its favor, that, at a venture, it can be 
said to have no parallel on the Western 
Continent. This refers not only to cheap 
fuel at the present time, but to cheaper 
fuel still from coal mines lately discov- 
ered clo e at hand. It refers also to cot- 
ton and woolen mills, oil mills, leather 
manufacture, aluminum plants, agricul- 
tural implements, reductiou works for 
ziiic, lead, and copper, paper iiiiils, car 
shops, wagon factories, fumiiure lacto- 
ries, good schools, good health, guod wa- 
tcr,favoriug social conditions to mill own- 
ers and mill workers; and next to maui- 
fo.d and unlimited means to success, na- 
tive to the state, it presents at the pres- 
ent time, with a prospect of becoming 
greater still at an early day. the largest, 
ready made market close at hand, of any 
originating center in the Union, of less 
than a quarter mi. lion of inhabitants. 

Or in other words, not only do the lae;s 
of the case prove an opportunity for in- 
vesting capital which carries with it pre- 
disposing causes that mean pros- 
perity, but an importance, which 
ii- to round itself short of no man- 
ufacturing center of the South— with all 
railroads in operation, and all new ro-.d.; 
beudimr their influence and encourage- 
ment to the promotion of enterprises 
sure to give them a large busine s; and 
Mire til bring to tlu'ir imiuediate Icrrii ;- 
ry. a commercial and social developnieut 
commensurate with the character and 
excellence of the country. 
In the same connection, not to be mis- 



understood, it ehonld perhaps be said 

that though it may not be in general, ;5o 
loiown to the public, it is in evidence 
against Little Rock that in striving for 
commercial honors, it is in the end seen, 
that splendid city as it is, it has not 
grown to a commanding height in size 
and population. The fact i.«, an avoid- 
ance of ruanntacture was but, natural, at 
a day when returns from commercial in- 
vestments in the state, paid four or five 
times the amount derived from other 
forms of business enteiprlses. But now, 
that such a day is gone, the past returns 
to incite a new pro'pec. of prosperity. 
That 01 mdustries which ?annot prom- 
ise less tnan a means to gain, depended 
upon a safe basis, at the same time it 
can be expected to add four and five 
times the number of people to the •■■um 
total of population, than followed wheu 
commercial enterprise was only in force. 



SPONSOR FOR LITTL,E ROCK AND THE 
STATE. 

Respecting the offices of well knowu 
railway magnates as sponsors for Little 
Rock and the state: It l< in evidence 
that incalculable benefit would follow 
the selection of at least one of them, for 
tLi^ reason that it would aid iu uudoint; 
iMUch misapprehension of Arkansas, and 
at the same time benefit properties in 
which he is directly intereted. But, 
transcending any selfish interest in the 
matter, tile man contemplaied iu this cm- 
aection can be moved as well from the 
side of public spirit and an opportunity 
to distingui.-h himself as a benefactor. 
uot ouly to a state, but to a great section 
of our common country where, 
nature Itself, pleads the cause 
of a brave and generous people. 
For however any effort toward 
the successful development of manufac 
tuws. must turn, primarily, upon 
great aggregates of native material, to 
satisfy capitalists of the safety and prof- 
it of their investment, like the motion im- 
parted to things when Fort Smith and 
the state woke up in 1887, the influence 
would reach, irresi.-tibly, to all South- 
ivu and Southwestern states of the Un- 
ion; and the geuiu- of the man, for direct- 
ing great enterprises, become crowned 
by a fame for usefulness to bis fellow 
man second to no American citizen of the 
present da.y. 

It is not a fruitles or impracticable 
btep to take. .Tohn H. Inman alone prov- 
ed that it was in keeping with the re- 
ijuiremens of capitalists who learn, com- 
paratively, nothing of inviting fields for 
investment that lie beyond the hard 
grind of business which leaves them 
scarcely time to cultivate the acquain- 
tance of their own family. And if sue- 



10 

cessful In the case of Atlanta and the 

state of Georgia, why not in the case of 
Little Rock and the state of Arkansas, 
whose manifiilil and unlimited naiive ma- 
terial equal the natural resources of at 
least four manufacturing states of the 
South ? 

Again: If from deeire on his part to 
avoid publicity, or any other reason, it 
i.< discovered that this man, most fitted 
of all others for the ?ponsorship, is disin- 
clined to lead in the matter (for at beet 
it will be no child's play to be left off 
when the actor has had his fun), there 
is recourse left in a convocation uf 
railway magnates, boards of trade, and 
state authorities, who can line up their 
effort in parallel directions; and as need 
for it presents itself, the party of the flrit 
part, resident at money centers, identify 
those publicly selected to Invite manu- 
facture,? to the state and Its capital city. 
The only oli.ieetion to this plan, as com- 
pared to the first, is the fact that It would 
lack the stamp of individuality, or orig- 
inal conception, which at any turn of tine 
game, would show the same directing 
hand and brain, and therefore at ail 
times inspire confidence by reason of 
consistency both in the design and in its 
execution. But it is better than nothing 
at all, and if it is, perforce, the only al- 
ternative left to our state authorities and 
the Little Rock Board of Trade, it is at 
least to that extent a point gained from 
which, thereafter, it would be possible 
to discover advantagse that would not 
crtherwL'e appear to those who, for the 
first time, undertake the establishment 
of factories. 



RAILWAY AVENUES TO RAW MATER- 
IAL. 

Of roads, present and prospective, over 
which it is possible to concentrate upon 
Little Rock, all native material of the 
state, it 1-- not necessary to emphasize the 
fact that they are also direct and indirect 
means over which to reach markets of 
the West, Southwest and Mexico, not to 
mention markets of the South, where 
the predilection already exists of patron- 
izing home industries. 

It i- an advantage, both as respects a 
eupply of native material and of connec- 
lions to ri'ady made markets not |)rissir)l;> 
to another point in the trans-Mississippi 
division of the Union. There are other 
point* to whicn more irunk roads have 
already been constructed. than 
Little Rock could hope for in the next 
twenty-five years, however, all other 
things mty come her way. But there 
is none of them whose railway lines com- 
mand so many kinds, and so great a sup- 
ply of native material at short range, 
none of them, at which the cost of ma- 



11 

teiial, lo begiu witU, would be lowoi lo 
manufactures; and', therefore, none ol" 
them, tht outcome of which would pair 
with conditions favoring Litt e Rock, in 
competiug at first hand, tor the manu- 
lac:uriiig trade before described. 

It is also extraordinary that so little 
has been understood of ihe situation, 
both upuu the score of railway lines in 
operation to Little Hock, and of others in 
Mght. Of the first, railways in opera- 
tion, there are iluee systems or groups 
which, in ctt'ect, means (trunk lines, 
branches and connections operated in 
this s.ate) twenty-stveu roads that con- 
nect Little Hock to so many different 
parts of the state. 

The operated road's are as follows, viz.: 
Missouri Pacific railway, north; Mis- 
souri Pacific railway, south; Little Rock 
and Memphis, branch if the Missouri Pa- 
cific; Little Rock and Alexandria, or 
Houston, Central ArKausas and Northern 
railway; Cotton Belt railway, mirth; Cot- 
ton Bolt railway. South; Altheimer branch 
of the Cotton Belt rai way; Little Rock 
and Memphis railway; Pike City connec- 
tion of the Missouii Pacific railway; Pre.-- 
cott and Wallaceburg connection of the 
Missouii Pacific riilway; Arkadelphia 
and Dalaik connection of the Missouri 
Pacific railway; Hoxie and Pocahontas 
connection (jf tlie Mis.souri I'acific and 
Netlleton sy.stems; Russellville and Dar- 
dane le e: uuection of the Missouri Pa- 
cific railway; Searcy and West Point 
connection of the Mi-souri Pacific rail- 
way; Warren, Eldorado, Nashville, 
Greenwoi d and BatesviUe branches of 
the Missouri Pacific railway; Clarendon 
and Helena connection of the Cotton 
Belt railway; Rob Roy and Euglish con- 
nection of the Cotton Belt rai way; Stuit- 
.gart and DeWitt connection of ttie Cot- 
ton Belt railway; Helena, Brinklty and 
Indian Bay connection of the Little Rock 
and Memphis railway; Magnolia and 
Shreveport branches of the Cotton Belt 
railway; White and Black River connec- 
tion of the Missouri Pacific, Little Rock 
and Memphis, and Cotton Btlt railways. 
Of roads "in sight" there are three 
cla ses — extensions and connections of 
roads now operated, roads now build- 
ing, and projected roads, viz.; Little Rock 
and Memphis extension; Mena, Hot 
Springs and Little Reck branch of the 
Kansas City. Pittsburg and Gulf rail- 
way; Miami, Bentonvll e and Little Rock 
branch of the Nettleton system; Har- 
rison, Marshall and Liitle Rock branch 
of the Mackay road projected from St. 
Louis to .\bilene, Texas, under the title 
of the St. Louis, Siloam and Southern 
railway: St. Paul and Little Rock; Mans- 
field and Little Rock; Eureka Springs 
and' Little Rock; Chadwick and Little 



12 

Rock, and ttie Salem and Little Rock 
branches of the St. Louis and San Fran- 
cisco railway. And, indeed, of which 
last named group of branch roads (two 
of which will be but t) it is to be an- 
ticipated of their extension, that they 
will bring to their territory and to Little 
Rock a prosperity unexampled in the his- 
tory of Southwestern railway develoj)- 
ment; the remarkable character of the 
country penetrated being the viudicaiion 
of the prediction made. 

OUR RAILWAT AUTHORITIES NOT 
POSTED. 

In connection with the >-ubject of na- 
tive material for manufactures, to be 
alone derived from territory of the Mis- 
souri Pacific railway, there is one diffi- 
culty in the way, which, without ex 
traneous help, it will not be easy to over- 
come. It is this: Though facts of the 
case may be, in a general way, argued 
by the mileage so great a >ystem op- 
erates in this state, so extra- 
ordinary are the amounts, and so wide- 
ranged the variety of material, that, in 
any serious attempt at details, inve>tors 
are, on first impulse, inclined to hold 
such information at arm's length. It is 
not due to any indisposition to take hold 
of a good thng, when they know it, but 
being at best strangers lo the state, it 
seems to them, incredible, that others in 
po-ition to do so, had not, in time, pre- 
occupied the ground floor tu the exclu- 
sion of all outsiders. 

In the same connection, that of ma- 
terial to be derived by Little Rock from 
territory of the Missouri Pacific railway, 
it is of course presumed, that the author- 
ities of the road are sufficient to estab- 
lish such information of the country pen- 
etrated, as would impress itse f, but they 
have accompli bed nothing in that direc- 
tion. There is no doubt of their inter- 
est in the development and profitable op- 
eration of the road in their Arkansas ter- 
ritory, and upon the whole, they have 
authorized most liberal expenditures to 
advertise the state along with matters 
of their own. But when inquiry is 
pu.shed further than this, it is found 
that the.v have had neither the inclina- 
tion to study the country, upon original 
grounds of their own, nor the leisure to 
study information, supplied by their 
■ ubordiuates, which established the fact 
that, outside of timber and farm pro- 
ducts, there is not ten miles square m 
their territory which does not supply 
native material required in manufac- 
tures and the arts. And as the same 
condition applies to other roads, as it 
does to the Missouri Pacific, at a glance 
there is -een plenty of reason for collect- 
ing data, necessary to a proper authenti- 



13 

catiou of Little Rock's present and fn- 
tui-e prospects as a manufacturing cen- 
ter, whether the outcome is to be pro- 
pitiated by means of sponsors, by iude- 
peudeni action, or by means of a convo- 
cation of railway magnates, boards of 
trade, and state authorities. 



WIDE EXTENT OF TERRITORY. 

That the variety and extent of ma- 
terial found in the Arkansas territory, of 
present and prospective railroads, is not 
al. on paper, nor all in the air, take the 
following named counties penetrated by 
them. 

Territory of the Missouri Pacific rail- 
way, main line, branches and direct con- 
nections: Clay, Lawrence, Jackson, Inde- 
pendence, White, Lonoke, Pulaski, Sa- 
line, Hot Springs, Garland, Clark, Ne- 
vada, Hempstead, Miller. Howard, Oua- 
chita, Union, Bradley, Drew, Ashley, 
Desha Lincoln, Jefferson, Phil ip-, Lee, 
St. Francis, Cross, Craighead, Woodruff. 
Faulkner, Conway, Pope, Johnson, 
Franklin, Sebastian, Crittenden and 
Pike counties. 

Territory of the Cotton Belt railway, 
and immediate connections: Green, Clay, 
Craighead, Cross. Woodruff, Monroe, 
Arkansas, Jefferson. Cleveland, Dallas, 
Calhoun, Ouachita, Columbia, Lafayette, 
Miller, Lonoke, Pulaski and Phi lips. 

Counties reached by the Little Rock 
and Memphis; railway: Pulaski. Lonoke. 
Prairie, Monroe, St. Francis, Crittenden; 
Counties to be connected to Lltt e Rock 
by means of the Mena, Hot Springs and 
Little Rock branch of the Kansas City, 
Pittsburg and Gulf railway: Benton, 
Polk, Sevier, Little River, Miller, Mont- 
gomery, Garland and Saline. 

Territory the propoed branch road 
from the Nettleton system will connect 
to Little Rock: Fulton, Sharp, Lawi-ence, 
Craighead, Crittenden, Benton, Madison, 
Johnson, Logan, Yell, Garland, Perry 
and Saline counties. 

Territory of the Mansfield aud Little 
Rock branch of the Frisco: Seba-tian. 
Scott, Logan, Yell, and Perry counties. 
Ten-itory of the Salem and Litt e Rock 
branch of the Frisco railway: Fulton, 
Izard. Independence, and White counties. 
Territory of the New Orleans and 
Northwestern: Ashley. Bradley. Dallas. 
Grant and Saline counties. 

Territory of the St. Louis, Siloam ana 
Southern railway: Marion, Boone, New- 
ton. Franklin, Crawford, Sebastian, 
Searcy, Van Buren and Faulkner coun- 
ties. 

But this Is not all. Not only does the 
given territory suppy, at a glance, a 
case covering seventy, out of seventy- 
five, counties in a state remarkable for 



14 

the variety and extent of its natural re- 
sources (and therefore a case for the 
railroads in which concentration at a 
certain point would mean a market tor 
material used in manufactures and the 
arts), but if all three are, hereafter, to be 
governed by business reasons affecting 
the one as it doe> the other, no alterna- 
tive is left, other than that of joint ac- 
tion (of Little Rock and the state-at- 
iarge) with the railroads, along lines of 
progress called for by exigencies of the 
situation. And if not that, then Is it 
high time for Arkansas and her chief 
city, as we.l as her railroads, to go out 
of the business of material developiueut. 
tru-ting to luck for that which comes 
only through energy, enterprise, hard 
thinking, and the good of the one toward 
the others? 

LOCAL ADVANTAGES OF MANUFAC- 
TURES. 

Of course, given a wide extent of ter- 
ritory upon which to . predicate Little 
Rock's claim to public notice, it were 
in many respects quite easy to cast a 
horoscope that would, so to speak, "hold 
water." But it is a serious question, 
environed as it is by !uch strong rivals 
a.-- Memphis, St. Louis and Kansas Citj-. 
whether the diroction of Its energleis to 
commercial enterprise does not in the end 
militate against its reasonable prospects 
of wealth and greatness. 

It is not meant that the greatest suc- 
cess to commercial enteiprite is impos- 
sible, other things being equal. But it is 
a fact that the ruling industries of the 
state, agriculture, and lumber have not 
proved, ■•« far, strung enough to sustain 
a trade superstructure to which, on the 
surface, it appear.s entitled. 

Its commercial accomplishment is not 
less poss;ble than in the case of other 
interior cities of the country, but if there 
has been any advantage which it does 
not enjoy, it has been either railroad 
concentration and patixiuage. manufac- 
tures, or competing rail and river out- 
let, or a combination of the three, all of 
which will follow in the course of time 
for Little Rock. But it has in no ca.se de- 
pended upon a greater amount of native 
material upon, which it is prac- 
ticable to base manufactures, as 
well as railroad connections, ga- 
lore; and at the same time retain In 
their favor, so large a margin of virgin 
territory upon which to build a splen- 
did commerce. 

In the case of manufactures, for which 
it must take the initiative, if it is to hold 
its own against rivals, it is quite a differ- 
ent thing. It involves the exchange of 
commodities for raw material, which in 
the end builds up two great lines of in 



IS 

dustries instead of one, or which, in the 
aggregate contributes to both the com- 
mercial and industrial wealth of commu- 
nities. It becomes the .-cene of adven- 
ture for young people of industrious hab- 
its who, while bound by home ties to all 
parts of the state, find it a means to pre- 
ferment, whether of sliill in mechanics, 
business management, fame or fortune. 

It is also a reciprocal line of industry 
for any city, in the sense, that for each 
ten thousand dollars invested in factories, 
it adds thirty or forty inhabitants to a 
community, whereas the same amount 
Invested in commerce only adds ten per- 
sons. 

But best of all; Take the tables on 
manufactures (extracted from United 
States census reports for 1890) given in 
another place. As a creator of local 
wealth, and the wealth of a state, com- 
merce compares to It. as a peanut stand 
does to a wholesale grocery house. For 
instance: In the table of summaries un- 
der the head of "Arkau'^as Manufac- 
tures." not only will it be found that the 
total value of manufactured products ag- 
gregated $22,659,179. which was derived 
for one year, from $10,448,236. in plants, 
and .?4.523.378 in live assets, but of the 
total cash value of manufactured pro- 
ducts. .'512.397.261, was distributed, or re 
niained in the state, as cost of material; 
.$5.794..8,83.as total wages paid: and $1,- 
035.256 as miscellaneous expenses. Or 
say $19,182,400. 



THE HALF HAS NEVER BEEN TOLD. 

Regarding the aggregates or amounts 
of native material: Any other part of 
this report is an easy task to perform, 
compared to the difficulties met with in 
a serious discussion of this branch of 
the subject. The difficulty does no* 
lie with the subject, or its treatment, 
but with readers who are strangers to the 
state, or for the matter of It. with all 
readers, who have not had to do with 
the exploitation of this state, or with 
the application of its natural resources to 
conditions of manufactures and com- 
merce. 

Had the state been situated closer to 
the beaten highways of the Union, and 
the general business man and traveler of- 
tener a visitor to its midst, nothing more 
would have been needed to establish 
the facts in the case, than their publica- 
tion in so many words and figures. But 
in this instance, when it Is considered, 
that nothing had gone before In public 
print, or In the general knowledge of the 
public, on which to rely for conclusions 
In the premises, something of the reader's 
indulgence must be entreated until the 
-ubject has been rounded to the end. and 
the writer, at tlie same time understood. 



16 

as only performing that part of a chron- 
icler of facts covering the fortunes of a 
state and city unljnown to them, or may- 
hap, only known to them in a sense which 
has nothing to do with the question- 
treated. 

In plain, it is a case in which possibil- 
ities inhering to natural resotirces of the 
country, read much like an impositi'U} 
upon tie credulity of the public. And in- 
deed, it is a case in which a change to 
the other horn of the dilemma has no 
better effect. For if substantiated in a 
manner otherwise satisfactory to tie 
reader, the tendency is to shame their 
understanding of a country well worth 
their notice; and therefore, "also establish 
for a people who were entitled to con- 
sideration, if upon no other ground than 
the character of country selected by 
them, as a home for themselves and their 
posterity. 



TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY BILLIONS 
FEET OF LUMBER. 
For example of what has been just 
-aid, take the forest area of the state: 
It is reasonably estimated to be twenty- 
five millions of acres in extent. This 
means, at only 6,000 feet to the acre, 
(which is the minimum estimate for 
merchantable forest in Arkansas) the 
sum of 'one hundred and fifty billions of 
feet of timber, suited to manufactures 
and commerce. Bat, instead of one hun 
dred and fifty billions of feet, the amount 
of stumpage is in all reason two-tilrds 
greater. This is self-evident. For if 
there is taken into account the density 
of forest in the low-ground, hardwood 
districts of the state, where measure- 
ments often run to 14,000 feet to the acre, 
and in true pine dirtricts of the state, 
where measurements run to 12,000 feet 
to the acre (the area of the two being 
more than equal to the remainder of the 
state), at a glance there is had, two hun 
dred and fifty billions of feet, which is 
the greatest amount of timber found in 
any other state of the Union. 

Another complicating phase of the suli- 
.iect, under the head of timber resources, 
upon which, for manufactures and con- 
istruction. Little Rock dc n draws, and is 
hereafter to draft her needs, is found iji 
the compilation of forest statistics (U. 
S. Census Reports on Arkansas), as com- 
pared to facts in the case. 
They ate so far out of line with what 
has been practically established on be- 
half of ihe state, as to put a doubtful 
construction upon the entire volume de- 
voted to forest areas of the Union. So 
to speak, the compilers "fell do mi." be- 
cause they either did not know their 
business, or because their information 



17 

was obtained, at .-ecnnd hand, from per- 
sons who were ignorant of whai they 
tallvcd. or who. being designing 'and 
sharlis, hoped by such misrepresenration 
to shut out mil. owners for a time, or 
whu hoped to Iseep out buyers likely to 
compete against parties by whom they 
were employed. 

COAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE. 

Though under different aspects, the 
same reasoning toward tho-~e who are 
strangers to the state, applies to coal dis- 
coveries made in the state. And. by 
way of parenthesis, it may be said to 
apply to everything else In the state, the 
exploitation of which had been entrusted 
to other hands, than those whose ' xper- 
ience in nur we tern country, leads tliem 
to discard theories, and get down 1o 
"bu.^iness." it they wish to malie discov- 
eries of value to commerce, manufac- 
niies and the arts. 

Not only has the coal area of ihe state 
served to raise a conflict between .state- 
ments authorized by the government 
through the United States geological sur- 
vey, and >tatements authorized by I lie 
state through the Arkansas geologica 
survey, ended some years ago, but it is 
proved, that in neither case had the 
facts of the system been reached. And 
the matter in question, therefore, still 
hanging fire for no other reason than the 
utistalies, or shall we call it, "errors" 
of -cience. 

In the case of the first named survey, 
while perhaps not designed to read so 
in fact, an ambiguous treatment of the 
subject makes ihe superficial area of 
the whole system appear at least three 
times greater than it is. And in the case 
of the Arkansas Geological Survey, the 
concluion reached, though it made the 
sum of the whole, only second to that of 
Pennsy vania, falls short of the facts, 
for the reason of other discoveries made 
since the survey closed, which add one- 
fourth, if not one-third, to the total area 
'if i!ur Arkansas coal fields. 

So has it been with everything else. 
But enough has been >aid to the reader, 
to understand that, if in any part of this 
report (already made, or which is to fol- 
low), contradiction aiTays itself against 
either authorized or unauthorized data 
in their possession, evidence is not want- 
ing to show that, at the worst. Little 
Rock and the state would be entitled to 
the benefit of a doubt. 

NATIVE ZINC, COPPER, LEAD AND 

ANTIMONY. 

Speaking from a positive standpoint, 
which means that the writer in the char- 
acter of a "Gazette" represent ative, had 
both led and participated in discoveries 



18 

"f zinc lead, copper and antimony, made 

in tliis state during the last sixteen years. 

I here is a delicate duty to perform which 
will not be shirked now that the wh )le 
matter seriously concerns Little RocU. 

It is the question of sufBcieni economic 
oies in Arkansa- to maintain reduction 
work at the chief city of the state, the 
possibilities of which begin to loom up 
along with prospective railway connec- 
tions and ;i low-priced coal, along with 
coke necessary to some processes. And 
in this respect, all scientific testimony 
to the conirary. notwithstanding, the 
ores are present in quantity, particularly 
the zinc, over the countie of Baxter, 
llarioii. r.ooue, Newton, and Searcy. It 
occurs iu the same structural form, and 
to the same extent, as found in the .lop- 

I I ' and Anr '1.1 c.i^' ' ct ~ *•' \l.t^-' ..i i i. in 
which lead the Arkansas system be on^e. 
but with this reservatien. that in the 
counties named an intersecting lead add 
materially to the probabilities of the 
case. It is this lat er fact which ex- 
plains the wider territory over which the 
zinc is distributed than geen in the Mis- 
souri zinc fields before named. 

Hence, taking into account discoveries, 
which time and again subs'antiated all 
claim- set up for the Arkansas zinc dis- 
trict, it does seem remarkable that no 
more appreciation is held of it at leduc- 
tion centers, than if situated in the re- 
gion of the Upper Amazon. The situ 
ation. true enouf;h. is in part explained 
by published statement of scientific 
geologists who, under state and other 
warrant for their action, have no doubt 
erred in their conclusions. And the rea- 
son for saying so, i>; found in the fact 
that practical miners have, in nearly ev- 
ery case of adverse decision, followed af- 
ter them, only to discover bodies of zinc 
ore greater than is today known en the 
western continent; with a prospect held 
out to others, having capital and a prnc- 
tieal turn of mind, of striking bonanzas 
In exchange for their industry and enter- 
prise. 

The mistakes, due to the scientists, 
appear to have had their origin with so- 
called "zinc geologists" employed by tlie 
chief of the Arkansas Geologica Sur- 
vey, to establish the economic geology 
of the zinc region, but who diverted their 
ofllce to the study of North Arkansas 
stratagraphy. with the usual resul'. th.it 
neither have we more infonnation upon 
the subject than was known practically 
thirty years ago. nor anything add'ed. . 
through such -ource. to the knowledge 
capitalists and' mining engineers reijnire 
as a condition to their investment at d 
labor. 

It i>' a long way to go about the subj<'ci. 
but as related to Little Rock, by reason 



19 

of prospective connections to the Arlian- 
sas zinc fields, it had become necessary. 
II is known that in two instances, the 
mistalies of the scientists 'ind cholved 
oft railroad enterprises througli the coun 
try, not to mention an unlmiiled amount 
of capital, the investment of which In 
7inc properties had been arrested Iw the 
same means. As the matter stood in its 
uncontradicted form, it was an outrage 
innocently or otherwise, perpetrated upon 
the confidence of the public. And in the 
ease of this report on Little Rock, it has 
been taken up for final disposition, with 
this challenge to the authors of the mis- 
take that if they will retrace their steps 
through the zinc country, and not "wab- 
ble on the gudgeon," they will in shame 
admit their error. 

It was nothing of great moment to 
them, whether they hit or missed the 
mark. But it was much to the state of 
Ai'kausas and its capital city, as witness, 
the arrested development of railroad;' 
through North Arkansas. And not least 
of all, it was much to Little Rock, as 
witness for example, the possibilities the 
zinc and lead open up— not only in the 
way of reduction works upon a large 
scale, but in the sublimation of load 
and zinc for use as paints: and which 
bod.y material when added to ochre and 
>ienna closer at hand (and to oil already 
pressed at this point, alone promise a 
great industry for Little Rock. 



MANUFACTORIES NEEDED AT LITTLE 
ROCK. 
(As conditional to material in reach.) 
Cotton (actories. 
Woolen mills. 
Oil refineries. 
Soap factories, 
Paint factories. 
Type foundries. 
Paper mills, 
Starch factories. 
Pottery wares, 
Tripoli plants, 
Tannery plants, 
Car works. 
Canning factories. 
Boat yards, 
Leather manufacturers, 
■ Box factories. 
Tobacco factories, 
Match factories, 
Manufacture of Alum, 
Wagon factories, 
Soapstone finishers, 
Furniture factories. 
Knit goods factories. 
Coffin factories. 
Manufacture of aluminum,' 
Carriage factories. 
Manufacture of fertilizers, 
Boat oar factories, 
Graphite lubricators, 
Pencil factories, 
Stove polish manufacture, 
Agricultural implement factories. 
Soap stone fire brick plants, 
Bucket and tub factories, 
Fre clay brick plants. 
Granite polishing plants. 
Pressed brick plants, 
Brick, tUe and terra cotta plants. 
Crayon plants. 



BOARD OF TRADE EXHIBITS. 

In proceeding directly to particulars 
belonging to the subject of nat:Vf> ma- 
terial, upon which depends a fiituie of 
manufactures, it w'l: at least save i^oii.e 
space m this report, if it ^-aid at ou'^n 
ti at exhibits coUecied by the LittU- Kock 
board of trade cover all facts in the case-; 
and for this reason it will be a saving to 
all prospectors in time, money and anx 
icty, if they will give the collection, es- 
pecially that of minerals, a close -t.ijy, 
Avh eh can be done at their lesur.?, .ind 
wlhout any uiquisitivenese on the part 
of others, free of cost. 

It is a eollect'<:i; having for its e vl au 
ej.lubit of Arkansas' native material, 
without the intervent ou of uninstructed 
>oli( ctor.: and persons interested ciihct 
iu lands or mining properties, whicj 
I'lakes it the only reliable display .>t' t'lu 
kind in the state, to which the publ^j iws 
tree access And, therefore, in pa.ssuig 
it is only justice to say of the Liuie 
Kick board of traae that in the public 
.pirit exhibited by them in the mairor, 
tiiey are entitled to the reward it brins*?, 
now that the natural resources o: i;ie 
state are to turn upon efforts to stai't up 
I laLufactures upon r, considerable sialo, 
1 oth for their city ai:d state. 

Exclusive of woods, textile mate. a;, 
■actory, farm, garden and orchard j)iod- 
Dcts, the following '_- the collection iia<l 
in mind: 



BOARD OF TRADE MINERAL EXHIBIT. 

Semi-bitumous coal, .'emi-anthracite 
eonl, zinc, lead, copper, iron, nickle, baux- 
ite, antimony, manganese, pyrites, chalk, 
soapstone, novaculite, graphite, tripoli, 
gyp>-um, talc, fire clay, tiling, elate, roof- 
ing, ?late, ochre, sienna, strontia, gla^s 
sand, agate, serpentine, marble, grsnlte. 
limestone, sandstone, porcelain, brown 
ware, yellow ware, terra cotta, pressed 
brick, building brick, vitrified brick, and 
tile claye. 

ARKANSAS COAL. 

While >-aw mills and oil mi,ls were at 
the time in operation (the first conducted 
upon a scale and in a manner worthy of 
the pioneers in the industry, p.nd the 
other justified in its advancement by the 
low price of cotton seed and '-he hii;h 
price of oil), the subject of manuLac- 
tuies was not considered in couaection 
with tU's state, until the great exteur of 
the Arkan.-as coal fields became known 
tow.ir.l tie close of 1SS6. And iu ihis 
lighi. with other states of the south nel! 
startol in the race for induetri-il cnfr-r- 
prJses and the money market tijrtit ever 
since, the facts in the case to a cousidern- 
ble fcxtent, explain the unappropriated 



21 

oppoi-t unity for manufacture.-- to vhioii. 
at Utile Rock and over the stale, ntten- 
t:ou is called. 

T'jc pitsenee of the coal had be^'n i.ie- 
vised, first, by Prof. David Dale Owen, 
jne of the Owen brothers of N^w Uar- 
mouy, lud.. at the time in charge ot the 
origaial g( ological reconnoissanco of the 
state, and afterwards by the l^mted 
States geological survey. But in both 
ca.-e9 excepting a few well known dis- 
coveries made before their dav, which 
are now known to have beru nccasiuiicd 
by "faults" in the system whch brou,:;ht 
the coal to the surface, all information 
proceeded upon theories, the basis of 
which were fossil plants belonging to 
members of the carbonif erou ■ er.i. And 
jn consetiuence, the writer having beeu 
instructed by the paper to determine 
whether coal was found in the state In 
quantity, it was (after sis months' ex- 
plo.tation and application to the work) 
left exclusively to "The Arkansas Ga- 
zette" to announce all general facts 
known in the premies to the present 
day, so exhaustively wias the undertak- 
ing carried out at that time. 

Of the area of the .\rkans:ns coal field 
(saying nothing of a system ot equal ex- 
tent found to adjoin it in the Indi:in Ter- 
ritory), it is s!m])ly neii'.-sary to annouuc-f 
that, bringing the discover'e,-: up to date, 
it is probably 2.000 square miles in ex- 
tent, and occurs according to order of 
quantity or distribution, in the follow- 
ing counties reached by the Little Rock 
and Fort Smith, and the "Frisco" rail 
roads, viz: Sebastian, Johnson, Faulk- 
ner, Franklin, Logan, Scott. Crawford. 
Pope and Yell counties. This i- exclu- 
sive of any prospects allowed, now that 
it is becoming known, that the coal fields 
encroach hitherward to the immediate 
territory of Little Rock, >vJth not an un- 
reasonable hope that accident has led to 
a discovery of good coal within four 
miles of the city. 

Of the quality of the coal, it should be 
stated in the out-et, as a necessary con- 
dition to an understanding of its value, 
that it is a semi-bituminous, or half an- 
thracite variety, and on that account h.-ts 
achieved a higher reputation as a heating 
agent than all other coals of a bituminous 
character used in manufactures, or for 
making steam, excepting that of New 
South Wale-- and the Shamokin basin of 
Pennsylvania the tixed carbon 78 to 9.^ 
per cent being even greater, and the asli 
8 to 4, even less than the coals of the 
two systems named. But while .nil this 
is true as to name of the coal, and there- 
fore true as to the character of the coal, 
it is only true as far as it applies to coal 
found in Sebastian, Scott, Logan, Craw- 
ford. Franklin, Yell and Johnson counties 
in general. 



T^ 



There is a departure observed in the 
density of the coal, and therewith a ten- 
dency discovered to a true anthracite in 
the case of the Eureka mines at Spadra 
in John on county, on the Little Rock 
and Fort Smith railroad, which quality 
is worked to the advantage of its own- 
ers by means of breakers. But this fact 
is even more emphasized the closer the 
present ascertained eastern limit of the 
coal is approached. The coal become.- 
harder until in Pope county its den ity, 
and its anthracite qualities in general as 
well, has for years made the product of 
the Ouita mines, also situated on the Lit- 
tle Rock and Fort Smith railroad. Famous 
over all Southwe-^ern states. And in 
the case of late discoveries made in 
Faulkner county, which is an adjoining 
county to the one in which Little Rock 
is situated, it is a dustlet- s, dry coal, dif- 
fering nothing from the Lehigh iu gen- 
eral character excepting that it can be 
broken up with les- cost, or. that it is not 
so hard and dense. 

Keing another discovery ma<le by the 
papcr.'and the facts of locality reserved 
for this issue, it should therefore be ad- 
ded to the la.--t case described that the 
following names of owners on whose 
property the coal is found, section, town- 
ship and range (made public for the first 
time) will gVve the points in Faulkner 
county from which prospectors can 
work out their exploitation.', 

D. O. Hartou, depth 60, 85 and 115 feet; 
section 13, township 4, range 15, 

W. SI. Lee, three miles from Conway, 
south; section 7, township 5, range 14. 

Bruce place, round close to Lallow; 
section 8, township 5, range 14. 

Crowley place, Round Mountain, sit- 
uated three miles from Pi'eston. 

Beloat place, Black Fork, eighteen 
mile; north of Conway, 

Xelso Peyton, colored, wire road, eight 
to nine miles from Conway, 

Holland place, fifteen miles north of 
Conway. 

J. A. Pence, corporation of Conway. 

COAL STATISTICS. 
Coal mined in the state for year 

ended June 30, ISOG, tous 889,785 

Mined for year ended June 30, 

1895, tons S9").ti71 

Number of mines worked 39 

Vumber of men empioyea'. 2,25c. 

ARKANSAS WOODS. 
In a table immediately following tbi; 
division of the report, a shnwing is at 
tempted of merchantable woods found it 
the state. The cla'siflcation carried out 
under the respective heads of "paper 
stock, construction, furniture and cab 
inet woods," is not designed to be arbi 



23 

trary, as will no doubt suggest Iself ii 
a glance at the varieties named. Bill 
it is employed at this time because ne\\ 
characteristics have been discovererl 
throjgh an order given by the LittK 
Rock board of trade, for a series of exhi 
bition panels now hanging on thei 
walls. 

While no effort was made to bring out 
the best color and marking of the panels 
either with fillers, stains, acids, or po- 
ishlng m.'jchine. remarkable, or let us -ay 
new characteristics have developed them 
selves in familiar woods found in Ark 
ansas. simply by means of polishing dom 
by hand and a coat of varnish. Anr 
hence, as a result of accidental discov 
ery. not only \~- there reason for the class 
ifiMtion. br.* it is trne when said in S' 
many words, that the effect is one whi"^' 
prac'ically adds quite a number of wondf 
to the 'ifit commonly used in manufnc 
turps: tb" rjunlities. or color, markins 
and strength of which Cfor they nrp al 
hard woods') had evideutlv e oaped tb- 
notice of expert timber prospectors. 

For instance: Tt will bo found, throtisri 
the coDection named, that in the willow 
oak of this state manufacturers, who ro 
nuire oua'-ter sawed stuff, will find an 
idea' wood.. The omission of the wood 
from the list of those us'^d in manufnc 
ture. is accounted for in a number of 
ways. It is in disfavor with farmers 
for rail timber, and is therefore slau 
dered by them. The panels exhibiter" 
by tho Little Rock bor>rd of trade, by th- 
state denartment of a<rriculture and man 
ufacture. and by the Iron Mountain land 
department, each from different parts 
of the state, is probably the first time an 
attempt was made to give it a showing 
and therefore nothing known of it ii 
The manufacturing wor'd. .\nd lastlv: 
Tt is one of the most abundant oaks founr 
in the state: a quick grower. 50 year- be 
ing more than sufRciont to give it a mer 
ohantable size: and is found s-rowins 
on "slash" lands, which makes it difficult 
to "log" unless done at the dryest season 
of the year. 

A difference, in fact, will be found ir 
other varieties of wood named. For s 
to speak, it is all round, a case in whict 
"local modification" appear= to hav 
played a part as it does in geology. T( 
=ay this does not. of course, imply tha 
tliero is any wonder about the thing, bu 
rather, as takes place in the modifica 
tion of bass wood (which is the "linden" 
in the series named, and which in the 
Southwest is called "linn"), it has no 
pa sed whol y lieyend recognition, bu 
it is not the same wood we know. Thii 



24 

much, however, is to be taken fo 
granted, that the best of them will b( 
put to their trumps toidentify without 
considerable examination, any of tht 
Arlsansas woods, esceptinsr pine, cypre.ss 
hicliory. ash and gum. which in them 
selves show even more than a passing 
difference. And in consequence, to taki 
up the reasoning where it began, mucl 
wil be gained by hard wood prospectors 
if they (these who are not familiar wit 
the state) give either of the series o1 
panels dex-ribed, a close study, not sav 
a careful experimental trial of such va 
rieti^ as by their color and marking 
show an adaptability to certain uses foi 
which they seek the most desirable 
woods. 

ARKANSAS' PAPER STOCK WOODS. 
Cotton wood, sweet gum, linden, tupelo 
gtim, cypress, 

ARKANSAS' CONSTRUCTION WOOD. 

Tollow pine, white onlc, hickory, pecan. 
P"sf- oak. sycamore, cypre s. cedar. .t^I 
and oth^r oaks named nndor the head '>f 
"furniture wood." 

ARKANSAS' FTTRNTTURE WOODS. 

Wnlnnt. satin wood or gum, chen-y. 
red oak. back oak, willow oak, cow oak 
burr oak. rod maple, bpech and winged 
elm, 

ARKANSAS' CABINET AND ORNAMEN- 
TAL WOODS. 

.Tudas tree or red bnd. papaw. slippery 
elm. holly, sassafras, dogwood, chinque 
pin, red haw, .a^iple haw, prickly ash 
shittam wood, red mulberry, bois d'arc. 
rivor birch, sweet bay. honey 'ocust. lin- 
den nnd liornbeam. 



TEXTILE RESOURCES. 

Rathfr than cotton as an introductior 
to the sub.iect of textile re'onrces. thai 
of wool has been substituted, for reasonf 
which fol'ow. 

The United States census report of 
1890. if taken at its face value, remove; 
.\rkansas at a single sweep from the lisl 
of wool producing states. This is not 
done arbitrarily, but it follows as a re- 
suit of artificial limitations, of which it 
was impossible* to njako notice m men 
stinruisries of sheep and wool produced 
in th: state. 

F;r instanco: The number of sheep oi 
farms in Arkansas aggregated only 24r!, 
;>0f) head. Thi does not represent tin 
capacity of the state for sheep raising 
but when investigated, it is found to car- 
ry in it elf discouragements which yet 
surround the indiKstry in a country re 
markabe for the fact that more thrii 
tivc^^ixths of its whole area compri es 
forest lands, or open territory. 



25 

Neither does the cireum'tance nf only 
512,390 pounds of wool clipped in ISSsi 
prove anything n.sninsl the wool indus- 
try as a source of profit to the farmer. 
It represents instead this fact, that, to- 
jrether with inroads permitted upoi 
flocks by reason of a large open terri- 
tory, the producei's are the victims of ;i 
conspiracy among the buyers, who hav 
not allowed them to discover that four- 
flfths of the Arkansas wool, classes with 
the be-t of the South, the so-called lalw 
wool of Louiisiaua. 

All this is. upon investigation bnni 
out, not only in the circumstance tha' 
only 243.999 -hecp were found on t24.7i;r 
farms, and more than one-fifth nf tl'f 
whole number killed by dogs, during th' 
previous year. l>ut as still further proof 
ef artificial instead of natural limitations 
take the census of improved breeds found 
on farms: They number only 50,4G0. 
while that of the common sheep of th' 
country is 193,.^39. This has fol owed 
rotwithstandlLg it is an indu try lodged 
almost exclusively in the hands of white 
farmers, who are more thrifty in a gen- 
eral way than the average of Southern 
farmers. 

Consequently, once the laws of th( 
state are framed to protect wool grow- 
ers, a ready made market for wool sup- 
plied by mills close at hand, and th< 
light thrown upon the c'assification of 
Arkansns wool, there is no question of 
woolen mills doing better at Little Rod 
tother advantages of cheap fuel, climate, 
cheap labor, and price of property in 
included) than at any point in the South 
and West having 25.000 or more popula- 
tion. 



COTTON MltiLS. 

As in the instance of wool, under the 
head of textile resources, so it i*i with 
cotton: It is doubtful whether the sub- 
.iect of cotton mills could be applied to 
local condilirns without a full rfasoning 
of the case, as follows. 

However much it is our iuc ination to 
view the operation of cotton mills as 
local to certain states or certain parts 
of the Union, the propo-ition does net 
hold any better in the case of Arkansas, 
than it did when it was a rule with the 
public to contend, that, having been 
innugurated by the New England State.s, 
they could not he operated successfuly 
in other parts of the country. This was 
upon the principle, that having the 
money, macliinery and experience, it 
would be a doubtful experiment to ereei 
cotton mills in other parts of the Union, 
especia ly if, in the face of competition, 
eastern mills agreed upon an ofiCensive 



26 

and defensive alliance. But it was a 
fallacy for two reasons: First, There 
did not enter into the question at the 
time certain considerations which be- 
long to cheaper fuel, cheaper cotton, 
cheaper labor, improved machinery, and 
more congenial conditions in jreneral. of- 
fered by the cotton states, thp natural 
home of the cotton mill. And second: It 
is to plain and practica' business rea- 
sons and not to sentiment, that we owe 
the gene'-al development of Southern 
cotton mill-, particularly in the Oaro- 
linas. CJeoriria and Alabama. 

The same kind of fallacy was applied 
when a movpment wa>; discusspd to re- 
move the manufacture of boots and 
shoes, or at least, a coDsiderab'e p.art of 
it. to St. Tyouis. It was contended that 
to do so. it would be on account of as- 
sociated indn tries, nractic.nlly nccessarv 
to remove enstcim manufactnrincr towns 
as a whole, when in fact, it was not from 
any standpoint, necessary to brincr form- 
er centers of such manufactures into the 
question. For if it was to succeed. St. 
Lonis must look to Its own Intere-ts. and 
not to that of other=. This it did pro- 
ceed to do by raoan<! of its home market. 
and by the most liberal and effective 
system of drumming known in the busi- 
ness hi.story of the world. And almost 
at the close of the second year after it-' 
introduction, the spectacle was affordfd 
of a great industi-y having been com- 
pelled to remove its domicile haf way 
across the continent, not in spite of op- 
position found in the east, but simply 
by reason of tremendous business pluck 
and energv St. Loui^^ brought lo bear 
upon the undertaking. 

It was something of thi-isame spirit, 
though not so .concentrated in form, 
which wrestPd cotton manufacture from 
the exclusive control of the pa*t. ,\nd 
in the instance of I>ittlp Rock, and the 
state fwi'h a large territory west ^f lipvo 
rapidly filling up. and with Mexico, the 
West Indies, and Central America to 
supply with such wares') to ucceed with 
cotton mils, it will only be necessary 
that the right msn and the opppniinity 
meet. And this accnmplishcHl. the result 
witnessed in the case of the St. Louis 
shop trade, will have been no more re- 
markable tlian the re-transfer, or the 
re-division of the cotton mill industry of 
theeat and south with the southwest. 

Of coursp. all this talk under (^\io head 
of cotton mills has proceeded inly upon 
the accepted theory of a migration of 
al' manufacturing industries from ex- 
treme sections of the country to the 
business axis of the continent (which is 
the MissiSBippi valley) accordingly as 



conditions demand it. But at the same 

time It has proven a strong reinforce- 
ment of the question, there is no doubt 
of I he fact that the right m:in. or the 
right set of men. can eome here and suc- 
ceed in planting larger mil s and more 
of them than at any point in the south 
and west not fully started in the great 
cotton mill race of the western continent. 
They have not only the cheapest cot- 
ton of all districts given over to cotton 
mills, but the be t cotton as a whole, of 
al' cotton states of the Union; cheap fuel, 
with good reasons for knowing that in 
twelve months time Little Rock will af- 
ford still cheaper fuel for manufactures; 
cheap labor, which also includes the fact, 
that it has the great "white belt" of the 
state to draw from for mill operatives; 
the right kind of temperature and re a- 
tive humidity to compare favorably with 
centers engaged in cotton manufacture; 
not to add, the second smallest death 
rate from con-nmption of all cities of 
the Union. And last: A libeial and pub- 
lic-spirited people who while neither ablr 
nor willing to subscribe argely to stock 
in a single industry, are yet. according 
to their ability and inclinat'on. willing 
to take st'ick tngother with noigliliori?, in 
large cotton mill euteiprises. under con- 
ditions which in the outset of this re- 
port were pointed cut as means to reach 
the height, up to which had climbed the 
cotton mill industr.v of certain ontiiofii 
.states. 



METEOROLOGICAL COMPARISON. 

The fol owing talile. with associatofl 
comments was supplied by Mr. P. H. 
Clarke, forecast cfBcial. and is intro- 
duced b.v reasons of sugge tioEs made to 
the writer by leading members of the 
Cotton Manufacturers' Association dur- 
ing their visit in a body to the .Vtlanta 
exposition. 

But at the same time the data supplied 
is intended to cover meteorological con- 
ditions favoring cotton manufacture. It 
applies equally on the side of hea th and 
climate; and therefore, by autlieuticated 
comparison, it will be seen that Liltlo 
Reck in it- natural residence conditions 
differs not over much fmni otli' r points 
in the table. 



2S 

REPORI OP L,OCAL FORECAST OFFI- 
CIAL. 

Mean monthly temperature and relative 
humidity at places named tor the months of 
June and December, 1890 and 1895: 









f 




3 


ft) 


3S 




s 




£3 




S 


3 




STATION. 


^ 


CD 


^p 



Nashua, N. H 

Lowell, Mass 

Springfield, Mass 
Prov dence, R. I.. 

Atlanta, Ga 

Little Rock, Ark 

Nashua. N. H 

Lowell, Mass 

Springfield, Mass |June, 

Providence, R. I June, 

Atlanta, Ga [June, 

Litt;e_Rock, Ark [June, 

Nashuar"N.~H lOec, 

Lowell, Mass [Dec, 

Springfield, Mass |Dec., 



June, 
June, 
June, 
June, 
June, 
June, 
June, 
June, 



1890164.2 
1890165.3 
1890,67.5 
1.S90I67.7 

1890 1 78. S 
ls9oi7S.2 



1895 
1895 
1895 
1895 
1895 
1S95 



68. 4| 
69.71 
70.7 
71.6 
76.8 
,77.2 



Providence, R 

Atlanta, Ga 

Little Rock, Ark. 
Nashua, N. H.... 

Lowell, Mass 

Springfield, Mass 
Pro\idence, R. I 

Atlanta, Ga 

Little Rock, Ark 



Dec, 

Dec, 

Dec, 



1890120.5^ 
1890121.9 
1S90122.6 
1S90|2S.4 
18901 45. 4 
1890145.9 



67 

74 
68 
73 
70 
78 
70 
76 
66 
75 
69 
_75 
70 
S3 
78 
66 
75 
75 



Dec. 
Dec, 
Dec, 
Dec, 
Dec, 
Dec, 



1895 
1895 
1895 



29.0 
33.6 




1895136.4 
1895|43.6 
1S95 44.2 



75 
86 
75 
69 
82 
76 



Of the cities above mentioned ;n New 
Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Is- 
land, Nashua has 147,000 sp ndles; Lowell, 
881,000; Springfield, six cotton manufactur- 
ing companies: Providence. 116,000 spindles. 

The above temperature and relative hu- 
midity figures are taken from the reco:ds 
of the Unitde States weather bureau. 



LITTLE ROCK DRINKING WATER. 
(Copy.) 
Hoboken, N. J., January 25, 1893. 
Certificate of watrr analysis. 
Received from Home Water Company, 
Little Rock, Ark.: 

No 1723. Dec. 24, 1892. Sample of Arkansas 
River water, after filtering, color, none; 
taste, pleasant,; smell, none. 

DATA OBTAINED BY ANALYSIS. 

Parts in Grains per 
100,000. gallon. 

1. Free ammonia 0.0015 0.0009 

2. Album noid ammonia . 0.0035 0.0O2 
^. Oxygen required to ox- 

dize organic mattei- .. 0.083 0.048 

4. Nitrites 

5. Nitrites 0.113 0.06 

G. Chlorine 0.825 0.48 

7. Total hardness 5.50 3.20 

8. Permanent hardness .. 3.50 2.04 

9. Temporary hardness.. 2.00 1.16 

10. Total solids 12.14 7.0O 

11. Mineral matter 10.56 6.18 

12. Organic aJid volatile 

matter 1.5S 0.82 

(Sgned.) ALBERT R. LEEDS, PH. D. 

Professor of Chemistry Stevens Institute 
of Technology. 
Note— The United States gallon is taken at 

58,334.95 grains. 



29 

Stevens Institute of Technology, 
Hoboken, N. J., January 25, 1893. 
Home Water Co., Little Rock, Ark.: 

Dear Sirs— I transmit herewith the cer- 
tificates of analysis of the two samples of 
Arkansas River water. No. 1 being the anal- 
ysis of the water taken from the river be- 
fore filter. ng, just as it comes to your fil- 
ter plant, and No. 2 the analysis of the 
sample of water after it has passed through 
the filters. 

The unfiltered water was very brown and 
muddy, and not suitable for domestic or 
manufacliu'ing use. The filtered water was 
perfectly colorless, clear and brilliant, 
pleasant to the taste, and suited to all kinds 
of purposes, domestic, laundry, dyeing, 
bleaching, paper making, boilers, etc. 

The two features in the analysis which 
are the most instructive are those under 
the head of albuminoid ammonia, and the 
oxygen required to oxidize organic matters. 
These especially indicate the quantity of 
fore.gn organic substances and impurities 
which are present. The filtered water shows 
a most striking and gratifying reduction. 
The filtered water contains only the two 
one-thousandth part of a grain of albumin- 
oid ammonia. This I can assure you is un- 
usually pure water. Yours very respectful- 
ly, (S.gned). ALBERT R. LEEDS, 
Professor of Chemistry Stevens' Institute 

of Technology. 



GRANITE AND MARBLE. 

So much as *:aid having been in grea;er 
pait applied to the idea of oppoitunltles 
outsiders had overluolied in the ca-e of 
Little Kock and the state, it is in conse- 
quence only true to facts in the prem- 
ises to give the other side of the question, 
which is that of a lilie failure on the pan 
of the local inhabitant to take iu the situ- 
ation. This oversight is In a large sense 
al.-o a reason for this report. Kor while 
nothing is intended to reflect upon the in- 
habitants of Little Rock and the state, 
unless it might be argued from their pre- 
occupation (the one with commerce, and 
the other with agriculture, to the ex- 
clusion of other considerations), it is yet 
a fact, with only a few exceptions to the 
rule, that what we know in detail of Ar 
kansas' resoui-ces is due to the enterprise 
and public spirit of the Arkanas "Ga- 
zette." 

This means all extended details, even of 
timlx'r and coal, upon which turned their 
general development since. And there- 
fore, leaving uul antimony discoveied by 
Von Blucliei-. bauxite discovered by the 
(Branner) Arkan-as geological survey, 
ferni-mauganese. discovered by English 
prospectors in search of paralusite for ue 
iu dyeing, and lead and the sulphuret of 
zinc discovered by early Missouri min- 
ers (the crystalline carbonate of zinc hav- 
ing been discovered by "The Gazette"), 
there is nothing known intelligently of 
native material found in the state, that 
was not originally supplied by its rep- 
resentative in per.-on, if not through the 
columns of the paper. 

What is meant is fully illustrated in 



30 

llie granite aud marble tound in the state. 
Tlie first whicli extends across the coun- 
try south of Little Rock, and its north- 
<'rn edge only one mile from the corporate 
limits, comprises a curved backbone 
ridge five miles long, with an average 
width exceeding two mile-, aud accord- 
ing to the va-t volume of material de- 
rived from it, found as far south as the 
line of Louisiana, must have formed the 
most imposing, as it is today, the moM 
intere-ting feature in the geology of Ar 
kausas. It is an exceedingly interest- 
ing exposure particularly if we include 
in the bearing upon our subject the fac!., 
that conformable to other exposures e.v- 
tended through several counties we-t of 
here, we have argument in it, not ouly 
of a continuous connection, but the rea- 
sonable presumption of a granite plat- 
form, so to ^peak, near enough to the sur- 
face not to take from the region all pros- 
pect of valuable mineial discoveries. 

But. at the same time, the exposure of 
the granite was sufficient to set all doubts 
of quantity at re.-t, not only had the "doc- 
tors" disagreed, aud iu the end the sys- 
tem accepted as an accident due to glacial 
transportation, but upon the whole so in- 
definite were the conclusions as to deter 
all granite workers from it.? use. And in 
consequence, there is no instance on 
record where a hole ten feet deep had 
been sunk down upon the formation. 
This was up to 1887. In that year gran. 
ite pavements having been adopted by 
Little Rock, "The Gazette" ordered an 
exploitation of the locality, with this re- 
sult which followed, that it was at once 
employed for building and ornamental 
purposes, as well as for paving instead 
of Missouri granite. 

Of the marble, which b found in Car- 
roll, Boone, Baxter, Madison, Marion, 
Searcy and parts of Washington, Benton, 
Stone and Independence counties, the 
most accessible at the present time, is 
the first and last named bodies, one of 
which is reached at Eureka Springs and 
the other at Batesville, this state. Though 
in the fifties a block had been contrib- 
uted to the Washington monument at 
Washington, D. C, and Instantly pro- 
nounced the best contributed by our 
American state*, it was not until 1S82 
that it was accepted to be a marble, the 
authorities before that time having hes- 
itated to go any further with Its classi- 
fication than that of an "encrinital build- 
ing stone," when in fact it is of the same 
color and grain as our .-o-called Ten- 
nessee marble: but with this reservation 
in favor of the .\rkansa.si stone over that 
of Tennessee, tliat while it takes and 
retain,* as good polish, experiment proves 
that it cost fifty per cent less to prepare 
for market, its working qualities under 
the saw and chisel being that of Italian 



Commercial Valne of LitUe Ruck Granite. 



St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 1st., 1895. 
Mr. John S. Braddock, Little Rock, Aik: 
Dear Sir— We have given your mate- 
rial a full test in cutting and polishing 
and it is satisactory in every respect, 
and I am suie tbat it could be sawed 
as well as cut with a good gang of saws 
to advantage. Our red Missouri granite 
and the dark Quiucy granite that the 
hardest granites in the Unitel States; 
all other granites, as Bane. Maine, St. 
Cloud, Colorado, and California, are 
somewhat softer, but the Little Rock 
granite cuts about 25 per cent cheaper 
than all the above mentioned materials. 
No doubt if your quarry was put in 
proper working order and supplied with 
the necessary machinery, that you would 
be successful in getting a good market 
for your material. It is a good material 
and something new in color and forma- 
tion, it stands a satisfactory crushing 
strength of 2.3, GOO pounds, and 
takes a nice polish, and could 
be used for monumental as well as build- 
ing work. The lowest freight rate from 
the East to St. Louis is 36 cents per hun- 
dred pounds in carload lots, or about 62 
cents per cubic foot, and from Little Rock 
to our yard it would be only 7 1-2 per 
hundred pounds cr 1.3 cents per cubic 
foot, and this difference gives us a chance 
to control not alone St. Louis and Mis- 
souri, but also a good many other state* 
witb your material against any East- 
ern granite. Yours respectfully, 

WILLIAM MARTIN, 
Superintendent Syenite Granite Co. 



31 

marble. The total area of the Arkansas 
marble district is probably 2,500 square 
miles. 

It was designed to add in this connec- 
tion something of the especial structural 
value of both the granite and marble, 
but since the report was begun, the dut.r 
has been committed to an eminent arch- 
itect of this city, who is at the same time, 
not without the geologifal attainments 
necessary to a thorough knowledge of 
the subject. His paper will be found 
among a number which follow as a sup- 
plement to the report as a whole. 

SOAPSTONE AND OCHRE. 

Another thing the state ha.? suffered in 
connection with its natural resources, is 
a species of depreciation carried on by 
outsiders to protect properties in kind 
owned or controlled by them, which, 
though it su.gge>ts the tricks of small 
minds, has its influence. 

It is a form of misrepresentation which 
has followed so frequently, that, upon 
occasion inquirers writing for .samples of 
any kind or for information, or both (If 
they are interested and desire notice) 
should be painstaking enough to show 
that they have a business standing at 
home, or at lea.'t they should afford 
some evidence that they mean business, 
elsewise. having become tired of the 
play they will obtain neitlier samples nor 
information. And at all events. If the 
»neees-ities of the case allow it. It were 
better to visit Arkansas in person, and 
eo settle the value and quantity of ma- 
terial at a single stroke. 

The fjpecies of depredation de- 
scribed ha« been largely directed against 
zinc, ochre, and soapstone. The attack 
on the first named has invariably issued 
from parties directly and indirectly In- 
terested in zinc mines. But which fact, 
much as it should impute their testi- 
mony, appears In general to have been 
overlooked. 

In the ease of ochre, a most extraordi- 
nary bed of which, both In body and 
color, is found at Monticello on the War- 
ren br.ineh of the Missouri Pacific rail- 
way, this state, the trick played for the 
last three years by St. Tjoui^ parties has 
.been to obtain car load lots from the 
(owners, free of cost, for trial in manu- 
factures, the object of which was. no 
doubt, to stock up with a high grade 
ochre by means of misrepresentation, 
and afterwards depreciate It" reputa- 
tion, while they represented the washed 
(Arkansas product as a high priced for- 
eign Importation. Something like the 
p:^perience described might have oc- 
curred in connection with high colored 
ochre .and sienna lately discovered near 
this city, but with the experience of 
others before their mind, the man who 



32 

olitaiui? any amount of it for trial or ex- 
.■uri illation will have hi.^ pains for thanks. 
unless he can produce the documents. 

A still more remarkable instance, oul 
of many others in the same connection, 
was brought to light last year upon the 
subject of the great beds of soapstone 
found in this state, twenty miles west of 
here on the lines of railway surveys to 
Hot Springs. Mena. and Fort Smitli. 
Samples were by reque-t forwarded tu 
parties in Veimont engaged in the prep- 
aration of soapstone finishes, with the 
result, that instead of coming out like 
men and acknowledging its value (for 
it has no superior on the Western con- 
tinent, having been teted by manufac- 
ture into fire brick, stove lining, and 
bisque ware) by return mail it v?as learn- 
ed that it was "talc," meaning talc slatp, 
and not steatite or soapstone. And to 
make their attempt more ridiculous, i; 
was discovered since, that they are palm- 
ing off on the trade, under the name of 
.-oapstone finishes, etc., talc slate. 

It appears from information at hand, 
that some questions had been raised to 
the effect that the strata of the soap- 
stone i.= too much contorted to suppl.v 
dimension material. The .statement hav- 
ing been originated in good faith by par- 
tie* prospecting the soapstone for manu- 
facturers of furnace and stove linings. 
it is therefore answered in the same 
spirit. They did not carry their exami- 
nation far enough. Three miles east of 
the original discovery the soapstone oc- 
cur.* abundantly In almost horizontal 
strata. 



STRONTIA, MANGANESE AND COPPER. 
Strontia, in abundance, is only found 
in the Ru*h creek mining district of Ma- 
rion county, one of the eight counties of 
Arkansas that adjoin the Missouri state 
line. The locality is that of the crystal- 
line carbonate of zinc found in this state, 
and beside .^trontia and zinc, is remark- 
able for the presence of manganese, mar- 
ble, glass sands, and mammoth forest 
trees. The strontia. and the other mate- 
trial described. L* found only a few miie^ 

from White river, and in the event of 
the beet sugar industry gaining a fool- 
iJVold in this state, could bo delivered at 
nil railroad crossings of White river, and 
at all landings on White, St. Francis, and 
Arkan-as rivere at a small cost for trans- 
portation. 

Ferro-Manganese, notwithstanding its 
presence in Scott and Marion counties. 
IS found principally in two sections of 
the state, viz.: Independence county, 
which is reached over the Bate=vi'.le 
branch of the Missouri Pacific railway, 
nad in Polk county, which is re.nched 
over the Kansas City. Pittsburg and Gulf 

ailroad. Though a large part of the 



33 

first named district has been appropriat- 
ed by Pitt-burg steel companies, some 
of the finest manganese properties in the 
world remain in the hands of local par- 
ties who know its value but who are not 
exorbitant in their price. Throughout 
the second named district, whch is prob- 
ably the largest manganese field iu the 
world (with brown hemalite ore, coal 
and lime not far away), desirable prop- 
erties were some years ago covered by 
options in the interest of Memphis capi- 
talists These options have no doubt ex- 
pired long ago, and at a venture one 
would be free to say that the opportuni- 
ty is in greater part open to investors. 

Copper is found in the Tomahawk val- 
ley of Searcy county, situated immediate- 
ly south of Marion county. It occurs iu 
both a carbonate and oxide form; and 
taken in connection with its proximity 
to mineral discoveries made in Marion, 
Boone and Newton countie.-, and in the 
neighboring valley of St. Joe (with noth- 
ing thoroughly explored of the country 
lying between) is iu itself a departure 
from a rule which promises good results 
if the oppotunity is improved by careful 
exploitation. Being otherwise surround- 
ed, by a good fai m and fruit region, it 
is iiol i]iidpi)ri.c;at d. but iciu.an^ an ;ir 
rested development because ifc value is 
depended upon railway construction 
through the country from Harrison to 
Little Rock. And upon the first signal 
of such constiuction which is not Impos- 
sible at this time, it can be expected to 
come widely into notice. 

ANTIMONY AND GYPSUM. 
Antimony occurs in Polk county in that 
part which immediately adjoin.* the 
couuties of Howard and Sevier, all three 
of which are threaded by the Kansas 
Ci;y. Pittsburg and Gulf railroad. Alueh. 
if not the greater part of the territory 
where found, was a few years ago owned 
by the United States Antimony company, 
of Philadelphia, who erected a reverber- 
ating furnace, wunk shafts, and prepared 
to reduce the ore. But upon the occasion 
of a visit made to the plant in 1888, it 
was learned that the coj't of wagon 
transportation to distant railway points 
rendered further operations impractica- 
ble, or at least too costly; since which 
time no further developments have been 
made. It is presumed that the same 
company owns the property, and there- 
fore is not upon the market. But in the 
event of others wishing to share in the 
antimony di-coveries. Lieut. Van Blu- 
cher should be sought out through the 
officers of the Kansas City, Piltsburg and 
Gulf railroad. He is the discoverer, and 
is, upon good authority, known to have 
most desirable antimon.y properties in 
hiding. 
3 



34 

Gypsum is found in Pilie county, and 
furnis the base of- conspicuou-' tieadland 
flnuliing a stream known as the Little 
Missouri river, a confluence of the famous 
Ouachita river. The nearest approach 
by rail is over the Prescott and Wallace 
burg connection of the Missouri Pacific, 
and over the Nashville branch of the 
Missouri Pacific. In connection with 
county where found it should be added 
that the Smithton and Pike City connec- 
tion of the Mi-'souri Pacific railway pen- 
eti-ates a region of Pike county, afford- 
ing the puiest porcelain clay found in 
the state, notwithstanding Arkansas is 
probal)ly richer in plastic clay, and Lit- 
tle Rook the center of a greater variety 
of merchantable clays, than found else- 
where in the Union. And in connection 
with the subject of clays applied direct- 
l.y to pottery uses, it will be found treat- 
ed in an exhaustive manner by Prof. 
Thomas, of Alexander, this ^tate, in an 
article from his pen, which, as one of a 
series, supplements this report. 



HARDWOOD AND PINE DISTRICTS. 

It was originally designed to supply 
at a glance, by shadings, on a map pie- 
pared for the purpose, the localities of 
prevailing hardwood and pine forests 
in the state. This design was abandon- 
ed, and the accompanying large map to 
the report substituted for the reason that 
the reduced size of the maps ordered, 
defeated the end for which they were 
intended. 

Though a stranger to the state, readers 
who apply the designations which fol- 
low will obtain an equally satisfactory 
notion of the prevailing timbers through- 
out the state; remembering, of course, 
that in the case of streams traversing 
pine counties, there is no exception to 
the rule of hardwood timber immediate- 
ly flanking their course. 

The hardwood district of Arkansas 
comprises conspicuously. Northern and 
Eastern Arkansas; aDd in this state by 
the term Eastern Arkansas is meant 
that part of the state lying east of White 
river as far south as the Arkansas; and 
Northern .Vrkansas thai part ot the state 
lying north of file Arkansas and west 
of White river. The exception in tihe 
ca-'e of both Northern ;ind Western Ar- 
kansas comprises Cleburne. Van Buren, 
Stone, Izard, Randolph and Clay, which 
arc pine counties, with fractional areas 
of pine found in counties included under 
the head of hardwood counties. 

The pine district of the state is notably 
Southern and Western Arkan as. The 
first comprises all territory of the state 
lying south of the Arkansas river and 
south of the southern half of the Ar- 



35 

knnsas division of Missouri Paciflp rail- 
way. Ttie second comprise^' tm ritoiy ly- 
ius west of Little IJock. soutli of tbe Ar- 
kansas river, and uortli of tlie southern 
em half of the Arl<ausas division of the 
Missouri Pacific railway. The excep 
tions to the rule in the case of South Ar- 
kansas are Chicot, Desha and Lincoln 
ciuntie?'; and the exceptions iu the case 
of Western Arkansas are Sebastian, Lo- 
gan and Franklin counties, which are 
hardwood districts. 

OUTPUT OF WOOD PLANTS. 

When arriving at the subject of timber 
re.^ources iu another part of this report, 
it was decided to omit the annual output 
of wood plants operated in this state. The 
•subject appeared to be surrounded with 
too many obstacles to saccess. and upon 
the whole, the last two yea:s had not 
l)een advantageou?" to the saw-mill indus- 
try, and to wood plants in general. But 
Muce the first of the year other means of 
a reliable character, having been sup- 
plied to the writer, the following will be 
found, within a few thousand feet, to 
be the average of the last three years. 

The information a-i supplied has been 
for satisfactory reasons divided, into 
■saw-mill and miscellaueous wood pro- 
ducts. The following is the table of 
plants according to claesification of 
owners, or according to product for 
which they claim a specialty. The 
total number of plants included, all 
of them situated on railroad line-', i.« 
4G7: 

OUTPUT OF SAW MILLS. 

Yellow Pine 492,827,000 

Oak f all kinds 93,746,000 

Oak and pine 94,474,00) 

Oak and cypress 27,035.000 

Cypress and pine 32,200,000 

Cypress lumber 29,200,000 

Oak, gum and cottonwood 35,000.000 

Oak, hickory and gum 39,200,000 

Oak, gum and cypress 24,100,000 

Oak and poplar 25,000,000 

Oak and gum 16,000,000 

Oak, ash and gum 6,900,000 

Oak .walnut and elm 3,OSO,000 

Oak, walnut and pine 3,000,000 

Oak, p ne and cypress 3,000,000 

Oak, hickory and sycamore 2,600,000 

Miscellaneous lumber 45,000,000 

OUTPUT MISCELLANEOUS WOOD 
PRODUCTS. 

Carloads. 

Staves 320 

Staves and heading 722 

Tight barrel staves 206 

Bucker staves 47 

Staves and hoops 38 

Staves and barrels 51 

Shaped hoops 32 

Heading 27 

C ttonwood box material 37 

Mscellaneous 231 

Wagon material, feet 2,231,000 

Hickory slabs, feet 1,800,000 

Cypress staves 7,210,000 

Cypress shingles 181,676,000 



36 
LOCAL, MANUFACTURES. 

While all details of this report on lo- 
cal conditions have been focussed upon 
piopspectt. Little Hocli offers to mauu- 
lactures of many kinds, the reason of the 
case is not altogether on one side of the 
question, when it is asked: What has 
been done in the way of industrial enter- 
prises, or manuiactureisV 

The answer is thi ; To use no data 
originating at Little Kock or in the state, 
a reply is found away back in the census 
reports of 1890, which, while much im- 
proved since then, covers the case suf- 
uciently to piove, that when accoinuio- 
dated LO the situation at the time, enough 
money had been forthcomiug to show 
tnac ail her people were not indifferent 
lu mauufactuies. 

b'uv example, notwithstanding outside 
of ihe city and county, Arkan as in geu- 
eia was backed in the race by hundreds 
ct saw mills, and Fort Smith, Pine Bluff, 
i'exarkana, Helena, Camden," Newport, 
and other points in common, not without 
entries for industrial honors, out of a 
lo^aj investment ol $14,y71,t>14, in dif- 
lerent kinds of industries, named undtr 
the head of manufaeturecs, Little Kock 
and the county in which it is situated, 
supplied little les» than one-tifth of the 
total amount so invested throughout the 
state. 

The sum has been increased, or 
nearly doubled since then, there 
having been nothing overdrawn in the 
census report, nor in tact, full justice 
done lo the matter, which is admitted in 
foot notes to the recapitulation pub Ishod 
under the authority of the government. 
But the facts of the case are etjual to 
all rea-' nable demand manufacturing 
investors might make, as a "show down," 
preliminary to planting their money in 
ihe city. 

It is a showing that is particularly grat- 
ifying since it brings to ight the cii'- 
oumstauce, that the cost of a product 
valued at $1(X>, is less in Arkansas thau 
iu the following forty states and terri- 
tories of the Union, viz.: Maine. New 
Hampshire. Vermont, Massachusetts, 
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, 
New .Jersey. Pennsylvania. Delaware. 
Virginia. West Virginia. South Carolina, 
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, 
Lousiana, Tenne-see, Keutucky. Mis- 
souri. Indian Territ' ry, New Mexico, 
California. Oregon, Montana. Nevada, 
Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, North 
Dakota. Minnesota. Michigan, Iowa. Illi- 
nois. Indiana. Ohio and Wyoming. 

In connection with the table of sum- 



37 

niaries of mauufaciuics which folow. it 
should be said that the cumiuaiies of 
"Little Kocli Manuiaccuiea" do uot in- 
clude items aud hgure^ that applied at 
the lime lo .ubm-ban diatiicts. This fact, 
in cousequeuce, qualities ihe table of 
"Litlle Uock and Couut^" to a consid- 
erable degree, the outlying districts, 
which were the ^eat oi many industrial 
plants, having been the next year added 
to the city. The outcome ie, that the 
table on "Little Rock and County" repre- 
sents, U' not whol y, at least in the great- 
est part, industries which, at ihe time 
represented, in fact. Little Rock manu 
factures 

It should be explained in the same con 
nection that the term "total capital in 
vested" used in the tables, includes the 
value or cost of lauds, buildings, ma- 
chinery, implements aud tools. 

And, to come nearer home: Take the 
table of "Manufactures, Little Rock and 
County," and if traced back through de- 
tai s for which it comprises the aggre- 
gated sums of each, interesting discov- 
eiie- will be made by those who had not 
looked at the question >eriously. For in 
stance: Take the fnilowing items aud 
compare them with facts which parallel 
the case on the r^ide of commerce in Lit 
tie Rock, viz.: Number of establishments, 
1-51; number of emplo.ves, 2279: invested 
in plants, .1:4,14.5.299: distribuied as cost 
of material', total waues paid, and mis 
ce lanenus expense.o, S,'?.4.'').5,927, 

MANUP.A.CTURES, LITTLE ROCK AND 
COUNTY, CENSUS OF 1890. 

Number of employes 2,279 

Total capital invested J2,S52i403 

Invested in plants $1,872,468 

Live assets 979,935 

J2,852.403 

Number of establishments 151 

Total value of products $4,145,299 

Cost of materials $1,918,998 

Total wages paid 1,267,503 

Miscellaneous expenses 269,426 

$3,455,027 
LITTLE ROCK MANUF.\CTURES. 

Number of employes 1 534 

Total capital Invested $2,677!955 

Invested in plants $1,807,201 

Live assets 870,745 

$2,677,955 

Number of establishments 124 

Value of products $3,120,677 

Cost of materials $1,396,773 

Total wages paid 830,857 

Miscellaneous expenses 254,227 

$2,481,857 
ARKANSAS MANUFACTURES. 

Number of employes 15 972 

Total caDltal invested $14,971,614 



38 

Invested in plants $10,448,236 

Live assets 4,523,378 

$14,971,614 

Number of establishments 2,073 

Value of products $22,659,179 

Cost of materials '^•^?I'o?l 

Total wages paid ^' ,?'|;. 

Miscellaneous expenses l,03j,2ob 

$19,182,405 
LITTLE ROCK MANUFACTURES. 
(Dun's local Agency Census, 1896.) 

Cotton seed oil mills * 

Cotton delinter plants 1 

Foundry and machine shops 5 

Engines and holers ^ 

Railway car shops - 

Street railway car shops 1 

Wagons and carriages * 

Cotton gin factories l 

Furniture factories ^ 

Planing mills ° 

Sash, doors and blinds * 

Wooden pulleys J 

Saw mills • 

Tobacco ad cigar factories = 

Candy factor es ^ 

Confectioners J 

Bread and cakes 1* 

Electric light plants ° 

Architectural iron works ^ 

Manufacturing druggists J' 

Saddlery and harness » 

Boot makers " 

Woman's clothing ^* 

Tailors' custom work i^ 

Coffins and burial cases 3 

Painting and paper hangmg i-t 

Printing and publish ng ^^ 

Blacksmiths and farriers ^^ 

Photographers ° 

Manufactur ng jewelers ^ 

Baking and yeast powders ^ 

Tents and sails Jl 

House builders *i 

Cotton compresses ^ 

Dyeing and cleaning * 

Illuminating and heatmg gas | 

Hand stamps i 

Artificial .ce i 

Lock and gunsmithing ° 

Marble and stone works * 

Bicycle and repair shops = 

Mineral and soda waters ° 

Lime and cement J 

Granite quarries ° 

Brick manufacturers * 

Plumbing and gas fittmg * 

Booting and roofing material " 

Saw repairs and grind ng ^ 

Tinners and coppersmiths ° 

Vinegar and cider factories ^ 

Trunk factories - 

Mattress factories * 

Plastering and stucco works > 

Flouring and corn mills ^ 

Staves and wholesale staves ' 

Cooperage plants » 

Mechanical dentists ^- 

Broom and brush factories -■ 

Boxes, fancy and paper ^ 

Boxes, wooden 



23 



Brass toundr es 



Shirt factories ., 

Sewing machine repairing ^ 

Handle factories ' 

Wine covering ^ 

Upholstering * 

Cornice makers ' 

Wrought iron works ^ 

Fence and w re factories J 

Woodenware manufacture •• '■ 

Total ■"'1 



39 

SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF LITTLE 
ROCK, 

Of social conditions: It is only fair to 
the question of Little Rock's social 
fabric, to say that it is neither too rijrid 
.inci erect in outline to fit well into the 
wider environments of the west, nor tco 
eomples, not to suggest something of -e 
lined conceptions and ta te.s. And if this 
is true, embarrasfiiiig as it may be to 
those of us who criticise western coin 
munities (not for what we know of them, 
but by reason of locality and surmund 
ings), is it not possible, that, because of 
the standpoint from which we look, they 
have the advantage of us. being never 
too dull of wit to know at sight, a hyper 
critical observer? 

It is at east certain, that we never get 
at the best side of western life, if it 's 
only looked at ^rom the exterior. There 
is a certain openness; in manner and 
speech and a certain regard for comfort 
and economy in dress, behind which, if 
we look closely, there are faces which 
alway- look out kindly upon humanity 
And what is a better test of the morale 
and intelligence of a man or woman 
than a consciousness of the truth, that 
the whole world is kin? 

Consequently with this much under 
stood, not only is it easy to gel at the 
fact of LItt'e Rock's society, but alsc 
the conditions of life from which it i- 
recruited. It does not in any resjiect 
compare unfavorably on the surface with 
the best of our American cities. But it 
is more than is implied by its well 
dressed' members and its charming 
homes. And. therefore, however other 
cities of the Southwest claim greater 
wealth, t'oey cannot as a rule, show bet- 
ter men and women in their soda' ranks 
than thosf of Little Rock. 

In the last sentence we have, in fact. 
tile application of the subject to the 
g'ound taken for Little Rock: of be 
ing. in all seriousness, the only one of 
many cities visited in the United States 
where (wanting in nothing that is de 
rived fiom money, blood, travel, fash- 
ion, and education), social conditions are. 
in the best and widest senses, favorable 
to mill owner and mill worker. 'What 
is meant is simply this: If upright and 
iiidustriou'. the worker of any kind wi I 
tii'd here more good people of his class. 
who have come from farms and not from 
slums, than any city of its size in the 
Union; and the miL owner, if a gentle 
man. will in a short time receive a kind 
er and completer recognition, according 
to his social qualities and ambitious. 



40 

than men of ten and twenty times their 
capital have received all their lives 
from citie- where they live. 

It is an exc usive people to those whose 
character or qualities do not fit them to 
wear well out of their sphere, whether 
of business or morals, but never more 
generous hosts and neichbors than when 
tlieir hospitality nnd friendship are put 
to the touch by the ri.sht men and wo 
men. It i^. moreover, not an exclusive 
ly Southern people, but from all piirts 
of the Union, which, in part, no doubt, 
aceonnis for the bearinff marliinsr tliem 
above all people of the Southwest. For 
r.Tther than noisy, or too free and e-i??.. 
tbpy are. in seneral, reserved and pelf 
p ssessed. beyond those of Memphis. St 
T.ou's. Kansas City, Dal'a', Hous'on. 
Gnlveston and San Antonio. And it is 
no doubt in consequence of this char- 
acteristic that they p?cnpe special notiof-. 
when others, more forward', strut out n 
wp'comed reeo.snition. before the sti'.nii 
er could take their soundinss. Tint 
their reserve ha- its advantages, as wit 
nes-' their son^ and dai's-h'ors wh" Imve 
gone out to more stations of honor nnd 
trust, and to more refined and stately 
homes in other cities and states. ,han in 
prrportion to number of inhabitants, ha? 
followed class for class, in the last twen 
ty years history of Southern cities, ex 
ceptinsr Baltimore. Richmond. Charles 
ton. Tjouisville. Memphis and New Or 
leans. 



COMMERCE OF I,ITTLE ROCK. 

Though this report is, in the main 
riven over to the sut)Ject of mannfne- 
tures. and the reasonings of Little Rock's 
cnraniercp held back, it is far from the 
truth to imply, from the circumstances, 
tliat ;t is nop now liolding its own, or 
that it will not hold is own hereafter. It 
lias it < limitations, il is true, but they are 
'imitations which d" not apply in the case 
of it.s retail trade, however. a.griculture 
and the lumber industry of the state are 
unequal to the demands, not to say, rea- 
sonalile necessities of Ailvansas' rapidly 
growing population. 

Any difficulties in the way onl.v appi.v 
to the .iobbin.g trade, which (by reason of 
vestrictinns necessitated at the hands of 
ta'lrrads. and a con-equent competition 
of St. Louis, Memptiis. New Orleans, and 
Kansas City, in this s'atel is to some ex- 
tent an "arre ted development," but 
whicli, under late pressure brought to 
boav upon the situation, will no doubt 
disappear; and in consequence the whole- 
sale rlealer re-appear in its trade in nnm 
tiers called for by Lltt'e Rock's oppor- 
tunity and its irresistible growth. 



41 

An important reason which has iii- 
tiuenced the condition of Little Rocls's 
wholesale trade, complained of. will be 
found in changes made in the purcha i' 
of cotton, formeily consigned to cotton 
factors at New Orlean.*. Memphis, and 
St. Louis, but now in general bought at 
first hand from producer-, or from mer- 
cbants doing business at points nearest 
to the producer. It was a form of busi- 
ness countenanced b.v precedents of the 
cotton trade, but which In passing awa.v 
now completely unmasks the eleraeu; 
of danger there wa- itirolved in it for 
legitimate busiue-^s men. And as a re- 
sult, having been wholly or generally 
abated only during the past few years, 
and freight rate limita;i(ins, within the 
state, not attacked upon general piiuci- 
ples. it remains for Little Rock to im- 
prove the opporinuily. 

It also follows in ths same connection, 
that with the double star of commerce 
and manufacture,- to s;Ul by. and pleniy 
of sea room to "tack" in. during period.* 
of adverse winds, not all of Little Rock 
is seen, if it is judged by limitation ■. 
which to break up. as now understood. 
only needs a strong pull, a long pull, and 
a pull all together on the part of her peo- 
ple. 

Regarding the retail side of the ques- 
tion: We have in it. at a glance, an ar- 
gument which at the same time it i? a 
credit to 1 ittle Rock, is? aKso a pointer to 
means tlir ugh which it is practicable 
to build a wholesale trade equal to the 
demands of it-i own territory, if not ab- 
solutely the whole demands of the state. 
Like its inetropolit.in contemporaries, 
.vou can not only obtain in the city at first 
hand, ever.v thing running up from a 
hay stack to a steam eugiine, but in Its 
place as the social center of the state, it 
is the only ahsolute center of fashion 
found in Arkanas. And accordingly, 
while not a hand is turned against other 
points of trade in the state, it has been, 
with good lenson for congratulation?, the 
d termination of its luorchants. not to 
sacrifice the advantage It perpetuates, 
e'.iher to greed, or to it* twin evil of cnm- 
meice, shoddy: with this result, that it^ 
retail trade doubles itself during the 
.vear because of patronage which, until 
a few years hack, had been bestowed 
UI10U New York. Chicago, St. Loui,- and 
Memphis and the ranks of local patrons 
iiicroa.sed more than fifty per cent, b.y 
citizens in general rf .\rkansa •. and of 
adjoining territoiy. 

LITTLE ROCK COMMERCIAL PLANTS. 
(Dun's Local Agency Census, 1S96.) 

Wholesale dry goods and clothing 3 

Wholesale hats, caps and millinery 1 

Wholesale boots and shoes 1 

Wholesale and retail India rubber goods.. 1 

Wholesale hardware 2 



42 

Wholesale furniture 2 

Wholesale drugs 1 

Wholesale grocers 8 

Wholesale liquors 5 

Wholesale fruits and produce 4 

Wholesale flour, grain and feed 5 

Wholesale meats ] 

Wholesale sand and gravel 1 

Lumber dealers 20 

Coal dealers 7 



Men's clothing and furnishing 14 

Millinery, dry goods and clothing 58 

Boots and shoes 14 

Jewelers and watch makers 12 

Hardware stores 8 

Furniture stores 15 

Undertakers 6 

Queensware, toys, etc 12 

House furnishing 6 

Books, stationery and newstand 10 

Drug stores 30 

Saddlery and harness 9 

Piano houses 2 

Sheet music stores 2 

Stringed instruments 2 

Florists 6 

Confectioners 20 

General merchandise stores 40 

Retail grocers 124 

Cigar stands 14 

Saloons 48 

Hotels and restaurants 27 

Barbers 52 

Steam laundries 4 

L very and feed stables 11 

Butchers and meat markets 20 

Hides, furs and tallows 4 

Machinery agents 4 

Railway contractors 2 

Grading contractors 5 

Newspapers 15 

Pawnbrokers 4 

Miscellaneous 45 

LITTLE ROCK BANKS. BROKERS. ETC. 
(Dun's Local Agency Census, 1S96.) 

National banks 2 

State banks 3 

Bankers and brokers 4 

Merchandise brokers* firms 4 

Commission merchants 15 

Packing house agents' firms 2 

Brewery agencies firms 3 

Building and loan associations, local 10 

Build ng and loan associations, foreign.. 7 

Real estate dealers and agents 35 

Abstractors and conveyancers 3 

Fire Insurance companies 1 

Fire insurance agencies 11 

Life insuance. state agencies 7 

Life insurance, Southern agency 1 

Surety company agencies 3 

Number of physicians 85 

Number of lawyers 103 



INHABITANTS OF LITTLE ROCK. 
Being for several rea-ons a matter <if 
general comment, it is hardly necessary 
to ;iay, that in appi caching the subject of 
Little Rock'.s "inhabitants." and there- 
fore by Implication, the subject of Ar- 
kansas' population, one is reminded of 
the "Cockney," who, as answer to an in- 
quiry why water was >prinkled on while 
cloth to bleach it when exposed to the 
sun. was informed that it did good by 
reason of offices the water performed iu 
pa-sing through the cloth. 



43 

It. is uot eouteudt-(I, excepting in ex- 
treme cases, that any one seriously be- 
lieved the story of the "Arlsausaw Trav- 
eler," but there Is no doubt that its of- 
fices, as it ran through the pubUc mind, 
did the state no good. To this day, let 
the reputable citizen of the ftate go 
• abroad, and it is the rule and uot the ex- 
ception, if he does not attract attention, 
insantly it is announced that he is from 
Arkansas. But meanwhile this talies 
place, little thought is given to the fact, 
that however the story may be predicated 
upon a frontier civilization, as it was 
conceived fifty years ago, it holds no 
more in these latter day;', than would 
the "witch burning" civilization of the 
New England states apply to descend- 
ants of those people, not. to mention an 
application of the "pipe and gin" civiliza- 
tion to the Knickerbocker descendants 
of New York, or the "Sucker" civilization 
of IlUnois, or the "broncho" civilization 
of Texas. 

There was an end lo it all sometime in 
their history, and why nut in the ca;e of 
AikamasV One thing i« certain, if oth- 
ers can stand it, and not afterwards blusli 
for their intrepidity iu reaching conclu- 
sions, the Arkau.-an can. especially since 
the matter will in the end take care of 
itself. And in the cast' of Little Rock, 
there is not an inhabitant of adult years, 
who, in the face of authenticated report;" 
of the government (uot to add current 
assurance of the day) does not know, that 
the hypercriticism of himself and neigh- 
bors is founded either upon ignorance, 
prejudice, or malice. This is upon gen- 
eral principles. 

If on the other hand we predicate the 
matter upon origin of inhabitants, and 
admit the hypothesi.s. that their ,;tand- 
aid of civilization is not up to the meas- 
ure of the critics, it will be found that 
the inequality is not altogether native 
to the state. But thi.* is parleying with 
the question, when, despite the "mis- 
takes of Moses." it is a fact, that from 
the highest to the lowest, society at Lit- 
tle Koek. and throughout Arkansas, i- 
permeated by less rottenness than any 
eily or fitate of the Union, .vnd to *h"o 
proof of which any one who is interesti d, 
is challenged to consult the authenti- 
cated reports of the government upon all 
■ubjects entering into the question, 
whether of morals, education, busines, 
or politics. 

Of the origin of Little Rock's inhabi- 
tants: Take the tables which follow, ex 
traded from the census of 1890, and 
upon the ground tljat the exposition ap- 
plies almost wholly to adult persons, it 
will be found that the injus.ice done the 
state, in the ca-e of its capital city, is re- 



44 

buked in the fact of a general If not co* 

mopolitau origin of its inhabitants. 

Before passing from the subject it 
should be added, that the number of in- 
habitants credited to Little Rock in the 
census of 1S90, 25,874. is correct as far 
as it goes. But it doe.- not go far enough. 
The annexation of suburban di-tricts, al- 
luded to under the head of manufactures, 
iu the case of population, included ad- 
ditions to the city which, for the pur- 
pose of avoiding city taxation, had not 
been included in the census of either 
ISTU, ISSU, or 1S90, and growing out of 
which omission, L»ttle Rock will, iu ef- 
fect, show iu lyOO, the .largest gain of 
population in ten years, of all cities of 
the ,-oulliwest having mote than 25,000 
inhabitants. Judging alike from the di- 
rectory, school, and franchiic census of 
the city, it can be safely assumed tshort 
of an house to house census) that the 
inhabitants of Little Rock, rather than 
less, number more thau 40.000. 

NATIVE WHITE POPULATION OF LIT- 
TLE ROCK. 
(United States Census of 1890.) 

Oli.o 159|Tennessee 1,S3G 

Illinois 1261 Mississippi 1,123 

New York 121| Alabama 772 

Missouri 16iil Kentucky 6t2 

Indiana 82| Texas 449 

Kansas 71 Louisiana 229 

Pennsylvania ... 59| Indian Ter.itory. 2S 

Michigan 401 Calitcrnia t^ 

Iowa 34 1 Maryland 15 

Nebraska 30, Georgia 16 

Wisconsin 1»1 South Carolina .. 13 

Massachusetts .. 15, Colorado S 

Minnesota S| Virginia 9 

Rhode Island S] Neiv Mex co 5 

Maine 4i Oregon 4 

Connect-CUt 4| Utah 3 

New Hampshire. 3i North Carolina.. 4 

Vermont 1, West Virginia .. 3 

New Jersey SI Florida 3 

Nevada 21Dtlaware 1 

Alaska 2i Waslilngion 1 

Total native whites, not born in Ark- 
ansas 6,143 

Total white, natives of Arkansas 7,b49 



G:and total of whites, natives 13,992 

FOREIGN POPULATION OF LITTLE 
ROCK. 
(United States Census of 1S90.) 

Germany 1,0S7I Denmark 9 

Ireland 2471 Not way 9 

England 2051 Bohemia 9 

Canada 133| Hungary 7 

Switzerland 53|Australa 4 

Sweden E61 Wares 4 

Fiance 49| Africa 2 

Scotland 44, Wtst Indies 2 

Italy 44 India 

Austria 3l| Greece 

Poland 2S| Belgium 

Russia 17| South America .. 

China 151 Mexico 

Holland 10[Not specified 

SUMMARIES OP LITTLE ROCK'S POPU- 
LATION. 
(United States Census of 1890.) 

Total population 1890 25,874 

Total foreign population 2,122 



Total native population 23,762 



4S 

Total natives of Arkansas U,0S2 

Natives not born in Arkansas 12,700 

Total white population 1S90 16,114 

Negroes, including 21 Chinese, etc .... 9,760 

Excess of white population 6,354 

Total families in Little Rock 1890 5,496 

Total dwellings in Little Rock, 1S90 4,980 

Excess of farail.es to total dwellings .. 516 

Total male population, 1890 12,962 

Total female population, 1890 12.912 

Excess of males to total females jiO 

STATUS OF SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. 

A.! called for in efforts designed to 
propitiate manufactures, and therefore 
convey a clear idea of existing condi- 
tions favoring the welfare and comfort 
of those invited to share its fortunes, 
it would be d fficult to round off any 
serious report of Little Kock, without 
applying the school and chui'ch test? 
which mark the history of our American 
civilization. 

Taken at their face value, there is no 
difference from what is observed at 
other points where the family is built 
up and protected upon lines ol defense 
dictated by reason and common . ense. 
Nor in fact is it necessary to go else- 
where for illustration of views express- 
ed upon the subject by continental 
writers who had vi ited the United 
States, the substance of which is ds fol- 
lows: That given the premises of native 
inhabitants, of respectable parentage, 
and their age over twenty-five years, 
there is no doubt of a noble likeness run- 
ning through the character and senti- 
ments of our people, traceable directly 
to the free school and free church sys- 
tem of our people; and therefore, that 
while in the truest sense creditable to 
the geniu." of our institutions, they have 
peen, are now, and always will be, the 
basis of greater stability upon which 
re!3ts our free government, than all the 
Republics known in the world's history. 

But at the same time all this L; ad- 
mitted, and the dictum, set forth, accept- 
ed as a splendid tribute to our school 
and church system, why is it at vari- 
ance with that which, in common, has 
been accepted of th^s tate. and therefoie 
by implication, accepted of its capital 
city? 

It is true, that at a venture, but few 
of us can acquit ourselves of the charge 
upon other grounds than thoughtless- 
ness or prejudice. And yet, it does not 
mitigate the effect, if we only admit 
the mistake without repairing the dam- 
age. It is not, that the arrow sped from 
the bow is lost, but it is the careless and 
indifferent view held of the con.-equence, 
when in all fairness and Justice as much, 
if not more diligence should be displayed 



46 

to repair wrong, as we wuuld in the case 
of a person whom, upon first acquaint- 
ance, we had mi -understood, or whom 
we had misjudged or slandered to our 
friends.. The failure to do so is, there- 
fore, in the same .sense an injustice, 
whether we care to thinii .-o or not. 

Beyond this, it is not necessary to go 
with the subject than the fact, that in the 
highest sense so Intent are the people of 
Little Rock upon an advanced plane for 
their church and school, that at a ven- 
ture, it were not too much to declare 
their office..- surpassed in no city of the 
world. They are not all -aints, not by a 
good deal. Nor have they and their 
children become be-spectacled from por- 
ing over ponderous tomes. But they 
comprise in greater part the beet type of 
Southern, Eastern and Western people it 
is po sible to find intimately associated 
under the roof-tree of any cit.v iu the 
world: who, at the same time they fear 
God and hate the devil, show forth a 
composite character plainly derived fi'om 
Puritan, Cavalier and Hugenot, which 
means that their mental and moral life 
may be expected to keep pace with the 
business sagacty, excellences, and giace.s 
of the three types named. 

In the tables which follow it was not 
deemed necessary to go beyond sum- 
maries supplied by the local superintend- 
ent of public instruction. They expres.- 
at a glauce all furce it is possible to u.se 
in a discussion of public school maltei\? 
in our Southwestern country. Nor was It 
thought necessary to go beyond a mere 
sunitaary of means Little Rock other- 
wi e supplies under the heads of col- 
leges, kindergarten, and studios. It is 
sufficient from the number given to 
know that they are demanded by the city 
and state. 

LITTLE ROCK PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
(Data based upon yearly averages for ten 
years.} 

Average enrollment of whites 2,659 

Average enrollment of negroes 1,704 

Total average yearly enrollment 4,363 

Average attendance of whites 1,990 

Average attendance of negroes 1,114 

3,104 

Number of teachers employed for whites.. 40 
Number of teachers employed for ne- 
groes 21 

Total average teachers employed 61 

Average high school graduates, white 19 

Average high school graduates, negroes.. 10 

Total average of high school graduates.. 29 

Average cost of supervision and in- 
struction $35,979 77 

Average total expendiutre $58.S00 S3 

Grand total expenditures for ten 
years $588.008 30 



LITTLE ROCK PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
(Operations of the present year.) 

Number of teachers employed 84 

Number of pupils enrolled. 1896 5,118 

Total cost for instruction % 45,505 

Total cost for all purposes 73,712 

Total value of property 313,103 



CHURCHES. SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS OF IN- 
STRUCTION, ETC. 
(Arkansas Gazette Census, 1S96.) 

Churches of all denominations 62 

Y. M. C. A. rooms and library 1 

Young men's institute and library. Catho- 
lic 1 

Public schools 9 

Colleges and academies 5 

Parochial schools 3 

Kindergarten 7 

Medical college 1 

Law school 1 

Business colleges 2 

Art studios 3 

Mus cal studios, vocal 8 

Musical studios, instrumental 13 

Piano instructors 173 

Pipe organ instructors 8 

Dancing school instructors 2 

LITTLE ROCK WATER SERVICE. 

Pressure to the square inch, 75 to 80 pounds 

Distributing mains, 4 to 20 Inches, 50 miles. 

Double muzzle Are hydrants, 320. 

Diameter of standplpe, 20 feet: height, 150 
feet. 

Reservoir capacity, 11,000,000 gallons. 

Pumping capacity, 14,000,000 gallons. 

Probable cost of plant, 5600,000. 

As part of th s equipment they use a 
6,000,000 capacity Worthingt n high duty en- 
gine. 

PUBLIC COMFORT iN GENERAL. 

Cost of sewer system i 30,000 

Fire apparatus and alarm system.. 34,000 

Cost of telephone plants 175.000 

Water works— probable cost 600,000 

Gas and electric light plants 750,400 

Cost of street railways 1,250,000 



Total cost $2,849,400 



HAT BAND SUMMARY. 
(City of Little Rock.) 

Area of city In square miles 11 

Number of inhabitants 40,000 

Value of Church property i 891,000 

Public buildings, State and city 2,448.000 



Total value J3.339,000 

Number of manufacturing plants.. 401 

Number of commercial piants 706 

Banks, agencies, lawyers, doctors, 

etc... 319 



Total number 1,426 

Manufacturing capital employed $5,156,000 

Other incorporated plants 1,452,000 

Banking capital 1,253.000 



Total, not including commerce 
In general $7,851,000 

Value of manufactured products 

1896 $8,190,000 

Trade sales for year 1896 16,612,421 

Total miscellaneous transactions .. 7.310,070 



Total, exclusive of banking $32,112,697 



48 

LITTLE ROCK BOARD OF TRADE. 

In clo-ing this report it is due to say 
of the Little Roeli Board of Trade that 
no body of business men realize more 
fully the opportunities of their city and 
state, and to that end have entered the 
race of progress and development in a 
spirit worthy of men who, knowing the 
right way to succpss, have the conurage 
to follow it, notwithstandig discourage- 
ments that beset them at the start. 

Rather than an affair that is attended 
to at the leisuie of its member?, it is a 
working body which in its parts repre- 
sents the strongest men found iu the 
state, and therefore with a view tu util- 
izing each one's ability and influence to 
the be^t advantage, its membership is di-- 
vided into three classes. Those whose 
province it is to advance and defend the 
city as a whole, and therefore not only 
set the battle of commercial and indus- 
trial development in array, )iut plan for 
it. The second clas- comprises the rank 
and file who are always in the saddle. 
The th^rd clasy is composed of the re- 
serves who are drawn upon the supply 
vacancies in the ranks of the first two 
mentioned; and all three at all times re- 
sponding to the call of duty promptly as 
the general alarm is sounded. 

But the principal advantage it proves 
to Little Rock is the fact that from its 
zeal and liberality it is at all times possi- 
ble to evolve a personal and general co- 
operation that is more than money when 
theie is need to promote new 
€nterpri.:es— a bright- faced, open- 
armed, welcome, behind which 
Little Rock stands pledged with 
its manhood and womanhood to do 
justice to the man or woman who has a 
right to personal as well as business rec- 
ognition. And for this reason aloue, say- 
ing nothing of a readine.'s to do the best 
possible for those needing help to get de- 
sirable industries on their feet, there is 
not another body of organized business 
men like it today in America. 

As expressed in the body of the report, 
on the nativity of iU citizens in general, 
it is also a remarkable body in the sense 
that it includes most reputable people 
from all parts of the Union, which fact 
probably accounts for the readiness with 
which they receive others of equally rep- 
utable personal and busine.-s standing, 
instantly that occasion demands action 
along Hues laid down for their govern- 
ment. But even with this admission, the 
gist of the thing remans when it i re- 
flected that, however the origin of popu- 
lation in other cities compares with Lit- 
tle Rock, none of them compare with it 
in the cordiality of their gi-eetin'j;, with- 
out waiting to see "how much there is 
in it" for the individual. And in conse- 



49 

quence, acting upon the principle that a 
gentleman and lady, is a gentleman and 
lady in Little Rock as they are at home, 
it is no wonder that, having tasted of its 
confidence in others as In her own citi- 
zenship, thos€ who have need to change 
their domicile never fail to return. 

As an incorporated institution it should 
perhaps be added of the Little Rock 
Board of Trade that, dating from last 
fall, it is In fact a consolidat:on of a sen- 
ior and junior body of businea? men, and 
|is therefore the only body of the city to 
be approached by outsiders upon any 
subject requiring general action and en- 
couragement, as well as information of 
all kinds whether of railroads, indus- 
tries, native material, or public improve- 
ment^ of any kind. 

OFFICERS LITTLE ROCK BOARD OF 
TRADE. 

President— W. W. Dickinson, whole- 
sale and retail hardware. 

Vice President— Henry M. Cooper, Lit- 
tle Rock Cooperage Company. 

Treasurer— John G. Fletcher. German 
National Bank. 

Secretary— George G. Harkness. 

DIRECTORS LITTIE ROCK BOARD OF 
TRADE. 

John W. Pope, cotton factor. Howell 
Cotton Company. 

T. H. Jones, commission merchant. 

J. A. Fones, wholesale and retail hard 
ware. 

Joh F. Boyle, Are insurance. 

J. W. Blackwood, attorney at law. 

Chas. S. Stifft. wholesale and retail 
Jeweler. 

J. H McCarthy, capitalist and- con- 
tractor. 

H. P. Edmonson, retail grocer. 

P. B. T. Hollenberg, HoUenberg Music 
Company. 

W. S. Mitchell, Arkansas Democrat 
Company. 

M. L. DB alALHBR. 



so 

'■'HE MERCANTILE AGENCY 

K. G. MJN & CO. 

Little Rock, Ark.. Jan. 6, 1897. 
Col. M. L. DeMalher, City: 

Replying to yours of recent date will 
say my conclusions upon the questions 
laid before me, are as fol ows: 

The year 1S96. which ha- just closed, 
has been full of many perplexiiies for 
merchants, manufacturers, etc., and as 
a rule trade for the year just ending has 
not been sati.sifactory, yet this has been 
the case thioughout the country; and 
while we have felt the general depres- 
sion, yet we are in no worse condition 
than many other trade centers. The 
fall and winter trade in jobbing lines 
ha- averaged fair, but the retail trade 
has not been up to expectation and the 
very unsatisfactory results of late are 
argely attributed to local causes, for 
instance — short crops, low-priced cotton, 
etc., which has made money scarce with 
the masse^: besides the hard times that 
the country has been passing through 
has caused the consumer to be more 
economical, and both traders and con- 
sumers have been more economical and 
bought in the main for actual needs or 
demand-: tli;>; pniiscM'vation has. in a 
great measure, a'^slsted to curtail the 
usual volume of trade. 

Yet as a jobbing market. Little Rock 
Is holding her own and In comparison to 
other markets of the same elze Is gain- 
ing in importance gradually every year. 
It is true there are not as many Jobbing 
houses In the city as we had a few 
years ago. but this Is the ca'^e also with 
many other markets and is accounted 
for by the depreciation In values which 
has made profits small: at the same 
time the expenditure necessary to op- 
erate a who'esale business has not prac- 
tically lessened In comparison to the 
email profits realized: therefore, those 
who have capital are timid, the results 
being uncertain, and do not care t 
vest In large enterprises, especially 
since the conntry has been In a state 
of suspense from an epidemic of fail- 
ures. 

The jobbing merchants of Little Rock 
who are now In business are progres- 
sive and enterprising: they cover a 
greater territory and have more travel- 
inar salesmen than heretofore. Ten years 
ago the trade of this city was princi- 
pal y confined to a radius of 125 miles. 
Now her merchants are seeking trade 
throughout the entire State of Arkansas. 
North Louisiana .the Indian Territory 
and some of her merchants have consed- 
erable trade e\en In Texa'^. 

As to her manufacturing interest will 
say, with a few exceptions, no progress 



51 

has been made during the past year. 

which lias resulted fidni the low price of 
products and small margins. The man- 
ufacturing of cotton oil. which is a large 
industry here, has been to some extent 
handicapped by the low price of their 
product and the results have not been 
all that could be wished for. The lum- 
ber manufacturers have to a greater 
extent felt, the depressidn. the hard 
times having been felt throughout the 
whole country, which curtailed build- 
ing and improvements, thus making the 
demand for lumber only moderate and 
low prices have prevailed. To the 
lumber dealers 1896 has been the most 
unsatisfactory for years, yet the outlook 
in this branch of manufacturies .^eems 
more hopeful and a good trade is antic- 
ipated during the coming spring. 

During the year Just ended the Little 
Rock cotton mills was forced to shut 
down, leaving creditors unprovided for. 
This mil, up to the time of its closing, 
turned out large amounts of cotton 
yarn, twine, etc. The low prices haa 
some effect upon it; yet the prime cause 
of its failure to sustain itself was large- 
ly on account of the plant having bee 
bought principally on credit. The op- 
erator, therefore, relied mainly upon out- 
side assistance to run it. The mill in 
1895, even under these conditions, did 
very well, but during the early part of 
1896 was compelled to manufacture on 
a delcining market which handicapped 
it to such an extent that it was forced 
to close. There seems to be no doubt 
but that this plant could be made an ul- 
timate succescs with ^uiHeient capital 
to operate it. for it is one of the best 
equipped mills for its size in the south- 
west. 

Some of the factories engaged in the 
manufaciuring of fixtures, sash, doors, 
architectural woodwork, are not eati - 
fled with the result of thf year, while 
others who are engaged in the same line 
state they did not make much money, 
but express themselves as being fairly 
well saiisiied considering the year which 
they had to contend with. 

One of the argest and most sueces - 
ful plants located here and in fact tn-' 
of the best plants in this .'■ection Is en- 
gaged in manufacturing cotton presscf-:. 
cotion seed machinery, iron worke.s. 
etc. This enterprise ha- done a largo 
and profitable business and their prt d 
net is shipped to every cotton-produr 
ing country in the world, and has i 
large domestic and foreign trade, ship- 
ping a large amount of their output to 
Mexico and Europe, and it is a paying 
ins itution and one that this city and 
state can be proud of. 

Another of the leading plants here is 
the roller mills, who turn out each day 



52 

in the neighborhood of 600 barrels of 
mea: and 400 barrels of flour, and on 
account of the growtli of this business 
their capital has been increased. 

The manufacturing of candy is a 
growing enterprise here. It is gaining 
in prosperity and increasing in im- 
portance. Some seasons of the year 
the plant is forced to work both day and 
night and their output is di-tributed 
throughout this state, part of Texas, 
Louisiana, etc. 

In spite of the hard limes the local 
furniture factory, which is now in op- 
eration, has been gaining and the issue 
for the .year has been satisfactory to it-' 
owners. Their trade has grown to sucli 
an extent that it was necessary to en- 
large iis capacity and it is now on the 
road to success. 

Among our large manufacturles are 
those engaged in cooperage, making of 
staves, handles, headings, etc., and while 
as a rule are not thought to have made 
a great deal during 1896. at the >ame 
time seem to have held their own. In 
some of these plants there is a large 
amount invested and shipments are 
made from these different enterprises to 
as far west as California, and as far 
east as the Atlantic seaboard. 

The many other small manufac- 
turles who are engaged in the man- 
facture of tobacco, wagons, carriages, 
mattresses, trunlss. etc., are believed to 
have made a good living, besides some 
of them have made a little money. 

JIauy consumers who are not close ub- 
server;! have asked how a city of this 
size has been able to sustain itself dur- 
ing the hard times which we have been 
experiencing, and the answer is made 
that if they would stop long enougli to 
observe they would find out that Little 
Rock has a great many more manufac- 
tories than slie has been given credit for. 
and these in themselves have in a great 
mea;iure, assisted in giving Little Rock 
what prestige she now enjoys. It is true 
we need more of them and encourage- 
ment should be given to manufactruers 
who come here to seek locations, and 
with more railroads we would soon have 
a city of double the amount of its pres- 
ent population. 

Within the last decade in appearance 
Little Rock has improved wonderfully. 
In the years of 1SS.5 and 1S86 she liad 
but few paved streets: now -he has many 
miles of paved and improved streets and 
the general character of the buildings, 
residences, etc., are much more substan- 
tial and attractive and for it size wil) 
compare most favorably with any in the 
Union and its geogiaphical situation and 
its close proximity to coal beds and many 
other advantages ought to make this city 



S3 

a leading manufacturing center in tlie 
sreat Southwest. 

Immigration burcnu- liavf lieen turn- 
ing tbelr attention toward Arl-iausas and 
ttie tide ul' immigrants seems to be com- 
ing mis way, for during (lie last five 
years many immigrants iiave bee locat- 
ing in laige numbers, in different por- 
tions of tbe state: and the class that 
has been teekmg homes in our midst is 
thr.ity and industrious. The benedcial 
results from this source is gradually but 
sureiy being felt. 

In summarizing your questions, will 
say wnlle 189G iu many respects ;0 far 
as the net isnies and re-iultis are con- 
•-•erned is not satisfactory, yet our city 
has held its own and in a measure we are 
better off than some sections who have 
been retrograding, and taken as a whole 
we have much for which to be thank- 
:ul. 

It is almost too early to prophesy In 
regard to 1897. The entile country has 
jeen in the throes ot liuancial diasters 
juring 1S9(!, and the coun:ry at the pres- 
ent time is like a weak individual who 
has been through a siege of sickness and 
s in a couvalesceuee .-tate; and is com- 
pelled to gain m.jre strength before be 
can walk. This is the pre^^nt condition 
of the country and we hope it will not 
tie long before the country is on its feet 
igain. No one can e.xpeet it to jump at 
mee from a long .lege of depression 
into a state of prosperity. This will 
come gradually. Our lumber induslries 
anticipate an increased demand for lum- 
ber to be shiped and distributed north, 
east and west. This together with our 
fruit crop will be a beneficial help and 
to tide over until the ne.xt fall crops are 
made; therefore conservative authori- 
:les while they do not look for a large 
spring trade tbey anticipate a very fair 
one and with the trade of ne.xt fall Ark- 
-■insas hopes to be at leat in a fairly 
tirosperous condition. 

WILLIAM P. HUTTON. 



EDUCATION IN AKK.VNSAS. 

Bj' Prot. Junius Jordan, State Superintend- 
ent f Public Instruction. 
The effort to make effectively promi- 
nent the material resources of Arkan- 
sas, has nullified to some extent, inter- 
est in her educational activities. The 
rusli for timber and mining lands and 
for expositions of physcal products ha^ 
almost exceeded the bounds of modera- 
tion, and the writers have been kept 
busy in .etting intensity -to these in- 
viting advantages. The quiet and effect- 
ual progress of our public and private 
school system, the personal self-sacri- 
fice of our citizens, in this behalf, have 
largely been overlooked. 



54 

But a reaction U beginning, and tlie 
silent, though steady energies of our 
people, through sunshine and stoim, and 
amidst adversitj- as well as proeperiiy, 
are being appreciated in the presence 
of an advancing and prai. eworthy de- 
votion to higer and more permanent ed- 
ucational development. The West, once 
estimated in itti impoL-taucy by its t;ee.:, 
its expansive area;?, its water courses, 
and its rutic sturdiness, is now at the 
front in a far more ennobling attitud'' 
and expression. Its newspapers, its pul- 
pits, its comereial workers, its state.;- 
men, have awakened a new enthusiasm 
in the student ol" progress. The observ- 
er, too, is called to clo e. thought when 
he sees that this people, under a long 
series of adversities and a continuous 
cloud of unfair distrust and su picion. 
have presented to the eye of the re- 
publ-c, entertaining, instructive and 
commanding results. When we think of 
the four years of devastating war. fol- 
lowed by nine yea is of negative condi- 
lions imder the bLglH of recou.struc- 
tion, and turn to look at the standards 
attained in the years that have eudej^l 
with 1896, we almo t disbelieve the ex- 
istence of any other than a continued 
series of prosperous epochs. It seem< 
however, that our state in th s respeci. 
furnishes a bright example of that ex- 
alted band that ha- "come up through 
great tr biihitiou," and we present for 
consideration her attainments and suc- 
cesses in intellectual and moral devel- 
opment. 

Other states may present more enlarg- 
ed and comprehensive system.- and ac- 
complishments, but there were not the 
same advertisities and discouragements 
to meet and to overcome. When man 
contemplates attainments, his apprecia- 
tion i.- measured by a knowledge of the 
obstacles surmounted, and the difficul- 
ties overcome in reaching the result. 

Measuring the status of Arkansas to- 
day by this standard, as to her intellect- 
ual progres- and achievements, we are 
willing to risk our standing for the bene- 
dictions that ever rest upon those who 
have fought a good fight. 

The records show as follows: Euuiu- 
eration of school poi)ulation :u l^O."), 
448.941; in 1890. 45r>.T3(:. 

.-Vmounts received from -tate tax. dis- 
trict tax. poll tax and other sources i i 
1S9.J. $1..j90.257.T0; in 1S9(!. $l,(17.j.991.l:;. 

Expenditures for salaries and other 
purposes in 1894-95, $1,130,232.75; in 
1895-96, $1,232,986.08. 

■["he amount unexpended in 1S96 in tlie 
hands of various county treasurers, 
$443,005.05. 

The permanent school fund was $4.">0.- 
000 Invested in Arkansas stao bonds. 



S5 

on which there is an accumulated inter- 
est of $390,000, and an annual increase 
of $35,000. 

In addition to tlie 5,980 schools taught, 
the state maintaias the Arkansas Indus- 
rial University at Fayetteville; and lilse- 
wise the Branch Normal College at Pino 
Bluff, the latter for colored teachers. 
The amounts annually expended for 
hese institutions averages 560,350. 

Furthermore, the sum of $20,000 was 
appropriated by the Legislature in 1895, 
■fo maintain a normal school of one 
month in each year, in each county of 
the state. The success of. this movement 
shows that 5,779 teachers out of 6,673 
attended these normals. 

There is iu attendance at the public 
schools in the state 296,600 pupils, and at 
the State University 621; at the Branch 
Normal School, 100 students; at private 

nd denominational schools, 2,2200. 

These are most encouraging exhibits 
of the financial and intellectual progress 
of Arkansas, as far as concerns the spirit 
of enterprise in her public and private 
schools. But. there is another most grat- 
ifying presentation to make, which es- 
tablishes beyond question the sincerity 
as well as the sacrifices our people have 
made and are still making in behalf of 
our sons and aughters. We submit 
herewith a statement showing the 
amount of funds Invested in private 
schools and in denominational institu- 
tions. 

The figures include the values of build- 
ings, grounds, and equipments of every 
nature, such as libraries, apparatus, fur- 
niture, etc. 

Stuutgart College. Stuttgart, $6,000. 

Jonesboro Training School, Jonesboro, 
$5,673.75. 

Hinemon University, Monticello, $7,- 
150. 

Rogers Academy, Rogers, $30,000. 

Central Baptist Female College, Con- 
way, $35,000. 

Hiram and Lydia College Altus. $22,- 

aoo. 

Arkadelphia Methodist College, Arka- 
delphia, $58,000. 

Mountain Home Baptist College, 
Mountain Home, $13,000. 

Quitman College, Quitman, $27,000. 

Hope Institute, Hope. $7,500. 

Bentonviile College, BentonvlUe, $10,- 
500. 

Conference Training School, Fordyce, 
?4.400. 

Hendrix College, Conway, $62,000. 

Arkadelphia Baptist College, Arkadel- 
phia, $80,000. 

Searcy Female Institute, Searcy, $80,- 
SOO. 

Searcy Male College. Searcy. $20,000. 

Galloway Female College, Searcy, $45,- 
IKX). 



56 

Littie Rock Academy, Little Rock, f7,- 
000. 

Arkansas Cumberland College, Clarks- 
ville, $58,300. 

Warner Female College, Little Rock, 
$7,000. 

Philadelphia High School, Melbourne, 
.$15,000. 

Sulphur Rock Academy, and James- 
town Academy, $2,500. 

Arkansas CoUose. Batesville. $30,000. 

Little Rock University. Little Rock. 

This shows an aggregate of $547,623. T."> 
that has been invested in enterprises of 
a private and denominational character 
all in behalf of advanced intelleetu;il 
culture. The good people of this state, 
in addition to the public school ta.x, 
wliich they readily pay, state and dis- 
trict, througli a spirit of love and en- 
thusiastic devotion to mental and moral 
development, have contributed of their 
own private means and hard-earned re- 
sources over a half million of dollars 
to the great cause of education. Nor 
have we included in the above enuniLM-- 
ation quite a number of other smaller 
institutions, whose value would swell 
the above sum to .530.000. 

The record is before the people, and it 
is one of which every one In Arkansas 
should be proud and doubly encouraged 
to continue faithful ia this grand work 
until our state sets the pace for a new 
eia in grander and nobler acconiplisli- 
ments in the great future of the Repub- 
lic. 



LETTER FROM M.\SSACHUSETTS. 

Northborough. Mass.. Dec. 2(!. 1896. 
To the Editor of The Gazette. 

I notice that you propose to issue a 
January 15th edition, one feature of 
which, I presutne, will be cheap coal— 
the foundation of the power of modern 
civi ization. I am told that you can se- 
cure good coal for manufacturing pur- 
poses delivered at $1.25 per ton. This 
seems to us very low, and certainly will 
attract capital and skilled labor, but 
cautious men will inquire if a moderate 
demand will increa e the price. 

Making and moving, creating and car- 
rying, are the principles which lie at 
tiae foundation of success. Mining and 
agricu ture are great sources of produc- 
tion as well as manufacture. But, 
however much we may produce, it 
avails little unless we can transport it 
to a good market. Good transportation 
facilities can only be supported by am- 
ple material to be carried, and good 
markets can only be found for articles 
that can be afforded at -mall cost. Pro- 
duction and trasnportation must go hand 
in hand. Making and moving, creat- 
ing and carrying, must be carefully ad- 



57 

justed on to the other 60 that there wi;i 
be harniony between the two great 
forces. 

This harmony is not to be secured by 
mere guess-work. The subject must 
be carefully studied by experts and men 
whose only interest i- ihat of the public. 
I am therefore glad to notice that you 
are agitating the subject of creating a 
railroad commission in Arkansas. About 
twenty-five years ago we formed such 
a commission in Massachusetts and 
though we now have much to complain 
of the information gathered and the ad- 
vice given to contending parties — for 
the powers of the commi-sion have al- 
ways been merely advisory — have been 
worth many times their cost. No 
wrong method can long survive a full 
statement of its evils by a disinterested 
and competent tribunal. 

The public interest is further pro- 
tected al' over the country by the inter- 
state commission. Mo-t of the states, 
I presume, have railroad commissions. 
and one great result is to prevent the 
building of unnecessary railroads. I 
notice recently that a piece of railroad 
has been declared unnecessary in a 
prosperous manufacturing neighbor- 
hood in Connecticut. The rail will be 
take up, and the stations and bridges 
be sold. There have been several such 
cases, and one of them only a very few 
miles from my home, was a finely bni t 
road that is now, and 'has been for 
twenty years, totally abandoned. In 
some form the public has to pay for 
this, A wrongly located railroad is a 
total lo-s, A properly located railroad 
may be very poorly built, and meet 
with great difficulties at the outset, but 
with reasonab e management, it will be- 
come good property. 

The mam lines of railroad connect- 
ing principal points are mapped out 
without much difficulty and details 
must be left to the civil engineers, but 
the connecting and cross lines present 
many points that must be carefully 
cmsidered by experts in other depart- 
ments than engineering. Then, too. the 
uljjeet of street railways is under the 
supervision of our railroad commission, 
and this is a very important feature of 
their duties now that electric and pneu- 
matic methods of conveying power seem 
(o wholly supercede the use of horses. 
For many reasons, therefore, I hope the 
coming year wil witness the organiza- 
tion of a competent railroad commi-sion 
in your state formed of gentlemen who 
appreciate how grand a work is before 
them in adapting all the latest improve- 
ments to the development of the re- 
sources of your great state. Faithfullv 
yours, CHARLES W. PELT. ' 



58 

POTTERL KS IN AR KANSAS. 

Little Rock as Adapted to Siifli liiiliisfrie«. 

(By Wm. S. Thomas.) 
Of the many industries for wliose in- 
troduction Arkansas ofCeis unusual in- 
duwmeut-', tlierp nrc none equaling 
the manipulation of our clays. Pottery 
i. one of the oldest arts, iis records an- 
tedate the hii'th of our Savior by more 
than 3000 years, and its pioducts have 
been used by every nation of the earth 
civilized and savage. At the present 
time, with our advanced eivi'.izaliou, 
the demand has increased wiih the im- 
provement and facilities for manufic- 
ture. 

It is not the deeign of this article to 
give a history of pottery, or to explain 
the modes of manufacture of what 
comes under the head of the ceramic 
art, but to call the attention of those 
interested in thi.^ industry to the fact 
that within the boundaries of this state 
we have every variety of clay and oth 
er minerals used in the manufacture 
of ware, from bul ding, paving, and 
fire brick, drain and sewer pipe, sa t- 
glazed stoneware, yellow and Rocking- 
ham, C, C, and white granite ware, in 
short up to and including Severes china, 
with the exception of feldspar, and of 
that I will speak farther on. It is 
doubtful if there is a locality in the 
world where, within the same area, all 
the raw material used in manufactur- 
ing the article- included in the term 
ceramics, is found in such c ose prox- 
imity as in this state and the near vi- 
cinity of Little Rock. 

Except feldspar, there is not one m- 
gredient lacking that entert; into the 
composition of any known ware. Feld- 
spar has been found in this state, bu' 
not of a purity that would answer for 
the higher grade- of ware, though we 
have hopes a better quality will yet be 
discovered. It is found of excellent 
quality in the Indian Territory and 
\Iabama As this mineia is only used 
in "limited quantities in the better classes 
of wares and for glasses, its absence i-- 
not serious, as will be seen from the 
fact that Staffordshire, England, where 
•^00 000 people are employed in this in- 
dustry and the output annually amounts 
to $20 000,000, of which a large portion 
comes to the United States, gets mo-t 
of its feldspar from this country. "' 
Middletown, Conn. 

Trenton, N. •!., the Staffordshire of 
America, has iwenty or more manu- 
factories, which are not only obliged 
to send away for their fe dspar, but to 
Pennsylvania for coal, and to South 
Carolina for their kaolin. Cincinnati 
has a number of potteries In succes-^ful 
operation— one whose ware competes 
with the finest made in Europe— but 



59 

there is neitlitr coal, or any ingredient, 
entering into the wares there manufac- 
tured, that is fount! in the near vicinity 
of that city. A thorough investigation 
has proved that no place in this country 
or Europe possesses as many advant- 
ages for the prosecution of this Industry 
in all its branches, as Arkansas. We 
have three varieties of cual, which will 
be found a very important item — we 
have seggar and fire brick clays, bal 
clay (so termed by the Stafford- hire 
potteries), kaolin, the purest of quartz, 
clay for terra cotta, stoneware, etc., in 
fact, for everything used in this art. 

To the investor, this industry pos- 
sesses advantages over most state-, as 
no amount of capital is invested in raw 
material— when wanted you go and dig 
it — no insurance on raw material, no 
danger of depreciation of value from 
time or any other cause, nor are the 
products affected by climate, time or 
fashion. For the manufacture of pot- 
tery in all its branches. Little Rock of- 
fers the advantage of cheap raw ma- 
terial, cheap labor, cheaper buildings 
than at the north, and has the farther 
advantage of an unliniiied market with 
no near competition. It is hoped this 
article wi 1 meet the eye of some party 
sufficiently skilled in the art to appre- 
ciate these conditions, and take ad- 
vantage of the situation. 

The writer has given facts from per- 
sonal experience, having been interested 
for a number of year- in one of the most 
extensive manufactories of the kind In 
the United States, and has made a 
practical test of many Arkansas clays. 
He would be pleased to give farther in- 
formation to aid anyone wishing to in- 
vestigate with a view to establishing a 
pottery. 

In connection with clays, I wish to 
call attention to a mineral clo ely re- 
ared to kaolin or china clay, called 
bauxite. In the arts, this mineral is of 
late introduction, attention first being 
called to it as an oxide of alumina in 
1868, and it is used for producing that 
metal and alum. It takes its name 
from Baus, in Prance, where it was 
first discovered. Thousands of tons are 
annually consumed in Philadelphia, 
Syracii.se. Buffalo, and Brooklyn, for the 
manufacture of alum. North Carolina. 
Georgia. Alabama and Arkan as are the 
only states where this mineral has been 
found Ln commercial quantities, and the 
three first named states are at the pres- 
ent time supplying the market. The Ark- 
ansas deposits are quite extensive, of 
excellent quality, and are located from 
six to thirty miles from Little Rock. 
There i^ no reason why Little Rock 
should not at least manufacture alum, 
if not the metal. 



60 

REPORT OF LITTLE ROCK BOARD 
OF '1 RAUE. 
(By Geo. G. Harkness, Secretary.) 
All tilings considered the business and 
indu trial interests of the city of Little 
Koek are in better shape at the begin- 
ning of the current year than they have 
been at any time since the commercial 
barometer began fallinsr four years ago. 
It is true that Little Rock, like every 
other city in the country, has suffered 
numerous failures during the late de- 
pression, but the percentage has been 
small by compar -on with other places 
of equal commercial importance and 
few of her peers can hope to keep pace 
with her in the march of advance- 
ment that is now commencing, for the 
reason that the diversity of Little Rock's 
resources when money is easy, is excep- 
tional. 

As compared with 1895 the year just 
ended hows a slight advantage in a 
l)us ness way. There were fewer fail- 
ures in 1890 than iu 189.5 and these were 
tor the most part failures of concenis 
iliat in lS9o were weak and due to fail 
l)ut which struggled into the succeeding 
year with an effort only to succumb fin- 
ally. As to value and volume of busi- 
ne s the best eriterions are found on 
comparative freight, express and post- 
offlce figures and bank clearings. .V 
comparson of freight receiiits for the 
last three months of 1895 and 1S9G shows 
the startling increase of 3737 cars in the 
latter yearr due to the protecting influ- 
ence of the Little Rock Board of Trade. 
Following is the statement by month-: 

1895. 1896. 
cars. cars. 

October 2762 4292 

November 2832 3701 

December 2842 4177 

8430 12,173 

Increase in 1896 3737 

A comparison of bank clearings shows 
an increase as follows: 

189", $16.202,70<; 

ISor, 16,304,81'i 

Increa e in 1S96 $102,109 

The gross receipts of tlie Little Rock 
postofllce for the fiscal year ending .Tune 
30. 1890. were nearly the same as in 
the preceding year: 

IS')',; $ ."i8.2l 17.01 

1896.' 58,402.16 

Increase in 1896 $255.15 

The receipts of the Pacific Express 

Company, the only company doing busi- 

nes- here, were somewhat smaller in 

1896 than in 1895. 
'I'hough no very determined efifort was 



61 

made during the past year to attract to 
this city new industrial plants, the 
Board of Trade managed in a quiet way 
to add a poke and hub factory, employ- 
ing twenty-five hands, to the woodi- 
workiug interests of the city and to in- 
stall heii' a first-class tobacco mau- 
iifactory. This cnnccru is called the Ar- 
kan as Tobacco Works, it manufactures 
plug and twist of a superior quality and 
has been particularly successful. It em- 
ploys an average of thirty hands. 

The cotton interests of Little Rock 
have suffered seriously during the cur- 
rent cotton year, owing to the destruc- 
tion on .September 1(>, 1890, of the mam- 
moth East Little Rock press of the 
I'nion Compress Company. This was 
the largest building of the kind in the 
world and it»s inimeuso storage capacity 
greatly facilitated the handling of cot- 
ton on this market. All cotton handled 
on the local market since the d&=truc- 
tiou of the East Little Rock press was 
pressed at the North Little Rock Com- 
press, but the limited capacity of this 
press caused much cotton to be diverted 
from thi- market. The low price of cot- 
ton this season has prevented several 
thousand bales stored in and around 
Little Rock fi'om coming into sight. 
Following is a statement of the cotton 
movement on the Little Rock market 
for the cotton ,easen of 180."i and 18'.).;. 
from September 1, tu December 31: 
Receipfc, Sept. 1 to Dec. 31. 

1S9.J 75,300 

1896 69,006 

Shipments Sept. 1 to Dee. 31. 

1895 54,342 

1896 58,740 

Stock, Dec. 31. 

189... 5 21,801 

1896 9,500 

On December 31, 1896, middling was 
quoted at 6c on the Board of Trade and 
on the corresponding day of the prev- 
ious year at 7 l-4c 

The business men of Little Rock are 
at present united as never before in .-i 
determined effort to advance the com- 
mercial interests of Little Rock and Ar- 
kan as from the inside. The Little 
Rock Board of Trade has inauguarated a 
a special feature of its work for 1897 a 
series of citizens' meetings. It is In- 
tended that the business men shall get 
together at lea-t once each month, touch 
elbows and exchange ideas for the good 
of the community. Two of these meet- 
ings have already been held and such a 
spirit of pride in the city and state 
shown and such an enthusiasm for de- 
velopment as cannot fail to work out 
great benefits. Already plan.? are on 
foot looking to the building of "Great- 
'e)r Little RjDck." These plans were 
formulated at the two meetings referred 



62 

to and tlie activty with which the busi- 
ness men of the comiuunity have taken 
hold, determined to do their share lu 
the trenches has fired much new ma- 
terial with an ambition to participate. 
The committee appointed to secure the 
convention of Arkansas Teacher- for 
Little Rock has earned the first laurel 
wreath by closing with the executive 
committee of the Southeru Teacheis' 
Association for the holding of the con- 
vention in Little Rock in June next. This 
committee consists of Prof. T. L. Cox. 
Mr. W. S. Mitchell and Mr. Geo. Russ 
Brown. 

The entire power of the Little Rock 
Hoard of Trade will be ihrown intu an 
elfort to increase the railway mileage 
of the state of Arkansas during 1897, to 
this end the Legislature will be urged 
to pass the Naylnr bill, embodying the 
opinions of the legislative committee of 
the Board of Trade and providing for the 
construction of railroads within the state 
by convict labor. 

Among the certain factor- that will 
contribute to the comfort and prosperity 
of Little Rock are the new free bridge 
acioes the Arkansas river at the foot of 
Main street and the new pressed brick 
plant which will be built in the West 
End by Lieper & Apperson. An almost 
certain consequence of the complet.on of 
the new bridge is the eon.«truction of an 
electric line connecting the Army Post 
with Little Rock and embracing North 
Little Rock. 

It is hardly possible that another year 
will go by without active work being 
commenced on the extension of the 
Little Rock and Memphis railroad west 
from Little Rock to Wister Junction. 
The Little Rock and Mississippi railroad, 
eommonlj- known a- the Worthen road, 
has just been turned over to Mr. Chas. 
F. Penzel as receiver for the evident 
purpose of closing the eighteen-mile 
gap that remains between its present 
tei-minus and Little Rock. The Kansas 
City, Pittsburg and Gulf railroad ha- 
nearly completed the stretch of line be- 
tween Fort Smith and Texarkana and 
will probably build on to Hot Springs 
and Little Rock from Mena, Ark. .\r- 
rangeinents have been completed for the 
extension of the Corbin road from Sun- 
iiyeide to Hamburg in Ashley county. 

The movement of the Board of Trade 
of Little Rock for increased railway 
mileage has struck a responsive chord • 
throughout the state, and in view of the 
determined pull and the pull together 
that i- being made, it is safe to assert 
that something is bound to come. 

The lumber busines.-; of the state, 
which means more to Arkansas and Lit- 
tle Rock than any one interest except 
possibly cotton, has already received a 



63 

very conylderable stimulus on the pros- 
pect of its protection by legislative ac- 
tion under the incoming national admin- 
istration. 

In conclusion, the people of Little Rock 
owe much to the patriots who have kept 
intact the Little Rock Board of Trade 
during the late depression and who have 
Ijy their membership and support 
builded it up to what it now is, the 
strongest commercial organization that 
ever represented the buiness interests 
of Lttle Rock. The Board of Trade is 
alive to the opportunities which now lie 
open to Little Rock and every business 
man should feel it his duty to join this 
good organization and help push things 
along. 



Li^yn ^ 






1! iii 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

run 11! III! "'iMf.i!i 



llii'lli'iiiiin iiii> 



014 610 9603 



Mi 



lliillM 




iili i: 



!MUIli lit!) 



iiililllilHHUliU^iiil 



